Last week, this writer had the opportunity to exchange views on the past and present situation and the buzz of reforms going around with a cross section of people in society. This group included public and private university teachers, retired government officers, doctors, students, businessmen and social and environmental activists. From the heart to heart discussion this writer could discern an undercurrent of despondency laced with anger and hatred in their tone. Further probing into their minds revealed some thoughts that are collaged below.

These citizens strongly feel that a group of men and women having no trace of honesty or respect for values and morals in their system join some political parties to loot the country's wealth. In their argument they have explained that almost none of the politicians of the last two decades came from affluent or enlightened background and none owned any large business concern before joining politics.

Hence they wanted to know, how come today these politicians own houses in posh residential areas, more than one business venture and more than one luxury car? What was their source of paid up capital? Also, these people do not have any record of doing philanthropic or social welfare work with their own money before joining politics.

The cross section of people believe that the country progresses because common honest people, farmers, masons, plumbers, blacksmiths, businessmen, teachers, physicians, engineers and government officials worked hard through the decades with whatever resources they had, and not because some politicians gave worthless speeches in parliament or in public meetings. There they only spat venom against the opposition members, so how can they claim to have contributed in the development of the country?

Rather, politicians in power and their close relations take part in looting of wealth earned by the hard working common people. They import luxury cars and household items and go on foreign tours or to foreign hospitals to treat common cold spending the foreign currency earned by our exporters and our labour-force in overseas countries. Therefore, everywhere it is the ugly tale of grabbing.

It is at such points in the discussion with the citizens that some of them wanted to compare the merits and demerits of fifteen years of "democratic" governance with the autocratic governance of the previous fifteen years.

It was quite difficult to counter the logic of some of them who believed the "so-called democratic" rulers were no better than the military or autocratic rulers. Rather, many came up with tangible proofs to stress that the past autocratic rulers and their times were better as far as market price, law and order, infrastructure development, administrative honesty, judicial honesty, control of corruption and politicisation of each and every department was concerned.

And then the citizens came up with some more difficult questions for this writer to answer. They asked: Should not the political parties that have engaged in wholesale looting of people's wealth be banned forever and their funds confiscated? Why only a handful of people, and why not the entire party be taken for trial since they worked in league as a group to plunder?

If common criminals must pay for their crimes, why should politicians get the opportunity for reform? Why murder charges should not be brought against the entire political party(s) when people/supporters die in street brawls during demonstrations incited by the party leaders?

Their next question was concerning the reform process and the politicians who are running around with the reform agenda. They smell rat in this exercise saying that the reform process is going on in isolation and not by taking one another in confidence.

This very fact indicates there is no trust and unity among the politicians themselves. They are doing what they do best: Conniving and scheming behind one another but lying with a straight face before camera. Then how can these politicians do any good for the nation?

The discussion also touched upon the need to send corrupt and useless politicians to jail and create space for young, honest, modern and hard working men and women to join politics to build a better Bangladesh. The nation needs new leadership. The old ones have had their chances to prove their mettle. And most of them failed miserably. The young leaders will have a long-term vision and take up plans with a futuristic outlook.

They further pointed out the imperatives of undertaking cleansing drives in the government offices and cadre services to ensure accountability at every step of the administration.

Shahnoor Wahid is Senior Assistant Editor of The Daily Star.