Suggesting some reforms and changes, the civil society members urged the major political alliances to act sensibly for the sake of democracy and asked the people to take active interest in political issues.

In a joint statement, they said it is a matter of grave concern that the opposition returned to the streets to realise their demands for reforms while the government continued its 'repressive' acts as the efforts for reform talks came to a virtual halt.

If the political parties cannot come to an agreement on issues like reforms in caretaker government, the Election Commission and electoral rules and process, they should present their ideas as draft bills before parliament for open discussions, the eminent citizens stressed.

They also asked the government to arrange a public hearing by the parliamentary committees so that the civil society members can convey their views to parliament.

"If elections could not be held through making the required changes, the unstable situation in the country would continue," they observed.

The joint statement also says it is a present day imperative that political parties are reformed through mandatory registration. The conditions of registration should include democratic practices within the parties, making all sorts of monetary transactions through banks, publication of audited reports on incomes and expenditures of parties, and nomination of persons active in a party for at least three years.

The renowned citizens also expressed concern at the price hike of essentials, devaluation of taka, crisis of power, adverse impact of the shortage of fertiliser and fuel for irrigation pumps on agriculture , and failure of the administration in different fields and reckless and brutal behaviour of the police.

They called upon the government to track down the absconding leaders of militant outfits and take actions against their patrons, inside and outside the government. Otherwise, law and order might deteriorate with the next elections nearing, they feared.

The citizens who signed the letter are Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam, Prof Salahuddin Ahmed, Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Prof Mozaffer Ahmad, Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid, Justice Kazi Ebadul Haque, M Hafiz Uddin Khan, ASM Shahjahan, Prof Hasan Azizul Haque, Ataus Samad, Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Hamida Hossain, Prof Ajoy Roy, Kofil Uddin Mahmud, M Mujibul Huq, Moslehuddin Ahmed, MA Bari, Principal Mahfuza Khanam, Mushtari Shafi, Abul Mansur, Syed Abul Maksud, Prof Shawkat Ara Hossain, Sharmin Murshid, Prof Badiul Alam Majumdar, Prof Musharraf Hossain, Lutfar Rahman Sarker, Nurul Haque, Prof Syed Anwar Hossain, Selina Hossain, Prof Moinul Islam, Sultana Kamal, Prof Jaheda Ahmed, Dr Shahdeen Malik, Prof Shahidul Islam, Abul Momen and Mizanur Rahman.