Read the requirements below, perhaps you or a friend or relative may qualify (remember, as Tagore eloquently put it: "Aamra shobai raja amaderi rajar rojjott").
Job Title: Democratically elected leader of a promising nation.
Job Requirements
Integrity/Honesty
- Must be "clean."
- Only work with "clean" people.
- Must promise not to hire any unqualified relatives.
- Will not be influenced by the existing evils of dirty politics.
- Will not be influenced by the temptations of ill sourced wealth.
Creativity
- Can mobilize others to work.
- Overcome gender, race and religion barriers.
- Able to make us Bengalis optimistic (this will be the most difficult task).
- Show us a government and society without corruption.
Courage
- To stand up to the evils of our society.
- To stand up to our other so-called political leaders.
- If need be, to make some unpopular decisions for the ultimate good of the country.
- To change Bangladesh's image in the global community (this one should be easy: the image currently is so low that it can only go upward).
- To bring the Foreign-Direct-Investment that the country needs without being labeled a "foreign/MNC dalal."
- To withstand a deluge of criticism (criticizing, is after all, our favorite past time).
Vision
- Dare to make every citizen dream.
- Rid our country out of chronic poverty and the curse of illiteracy.
- Provide basic health care and economic opportunity.
- Bring unprecedented economic growth.
- Encourage entrepreneurship.
- Upgrade infrastructure.
- Create public-private partnerships.
- Establish a place for Bangladesh in the international community.
Communication
- Distill the message/goals of the country for all the citizens.
- Inspire people to think beyond bi-partisan politics.
- Communicate in ways other than hartals, strikes or name calling.
- Preferably a "non-screamer."
- Convince every citizen (here and aboard) to do their share in rebuilding the nation.
- Effectively communicate Bangladesh's position in the international arena.
- Establish fruitful dialogue with other foreign leaders (without being labeled a foreign agent).
Motivator
- Get the young, the old, the disenchanted and the pessimistic to follow you.
- Surround yourself with good leaders.
- Make your immediate team better than yourself.
- Motivate your underlings with the pride of serving the nation but pay them well enough so there will be no excuse for corruption.
- Rally the international community to assist Bangladesh in the meeting the challenges of global warming.
Charisma
- Either you have it or you don't.
- If you don't have it, then make up for it with passion.
Good Health
- To withstand the physical and mental rigors before, during and after the election.
Education
- At least a university degree with good, coherent communication skills in both Bengali and English.
Relevant Past Experience
- Led a large public or private "civilian" organization with representation all over Bangladesh.
- Daughter or wife (or for that matter, son, husband, mother, father, second cousin, or any other relative) of a past leader does not count towards relevant experience.
Reference
- At least 17,000 citizens who will write in and ask you to "run for election."
- Vote of confidence from international community is a plus not a minus
Compensation
- Upon winning the election, salary of a prime minister (sorry, no other financial "bonus").
- Government housing, car and security.
- The priceless pride, joy and agony of turning a nation around.
If you are still reading this, that means you know of someone who will fit the role. If you do, please do get the person to come forward. I cannot guarantee that some of our countrymen will not tear him/her apart. However, I can guarantee that if the person fits the rigorous requirements above, enough of us will support his/her candidacy. We will throw all in and support the person through victory in the election, through five years of clean, effective government, all the way until he/she hands over a new thriving country to his/her legitimate, elected successor.
Durreen Shahnaz is the Managing Director of a regional media company based in Singapore.
This article was published in Daily Star on May 06, 2007
