The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md.Monirul Islam

Dearth of the comprehension of "policy making and makers", two assimilated apparatus, fashion the hindrances on the way of the momentum of democratic countries' advancement in most of the developing countries. Political leaders' forging in a system shape their entity as policy makers in the process of democratic norms and values through election. Leaders who become policy maker, as we all know, have roots in pragmatic or conventional norms because of following traditional education system of poor countries which is commonly considered the lacking of policy makers' knowledge in their functioning ground i.e. decision making field of any state.

To crystallize decisions of makers in an advanced temperament for the well being of people, a think tank with its ardent outlook formulates the stage of development in state affairs. So, think tanks pertain accumulated thinking into a tank or space; the word 'tank' is commonly used in keeping water in a big pot. Think tanks are either government - sponsored or privately organised groups of professionals who do research in any or all possible disciplines and communicate their research findings to the public at large or to targeted audiences whose opinions they want to influence.

Private think tanks may be affiliated to academic institutions, organised as autonomous non-profit foundations or promoted by a homogenous group of professionals such as business people, journalists or lawyers.

The demise of communism in most of the world may give the impression that ideas are no longer powerful in influencing nations' destinies. Simple pragmatism may seem to be the only principle animating the behavior of the major actors in the so-called emerging markets or fledgling democracies. If properly communicated and disseminated, however, ideas can play a powerful role in shaping policies that may advance or frustrate the objective of democratisation or market liberalisation.

For this reason, those attempting to introduce market or democratic reforms should take a closer look at the role of "think tanks" in the more developed countries. In many emerging markets today, the role of think tanks in public policy making is just beginning. There is no dearth of scholars who do high - quality research in these countries. Very few of these researchers, however, apply their work to any advocacy program of, say, economic or political reform. There is a tendency for research scientists in these countries to literally live in their ivory towers.

In fact, there were three key ideas that motivates every the founder of think tank. The first was the Principle of subsidiarity. This principle emphasizes that tasks that can be efficiently accomplished by private individuals or small groups should not be usurped by higher bodies, least of all by an all-powerful state. The second is the principle of solidarity: individual members of society must always seek ways to promote the common good in their private decisions and actions.

The third is the common good-defined not as the greatest good for the greatest number, but as a social or juridical order that enables each member of society to seek his or her fullest development in all aspects. These ideas-abstract as they may seem-are very powerful motivators for the diverse group of economists, educators and other professional people who start doing research on national, sectoral, regional and international economic issues and communicating their findings to teachers, students, business people, professionals and the public at large through articles in the mass media. Anyway, the present caretaker government of Bangladesh, a source reports, attempt to frame a unique think tank headed by government chief of the country in an effort of predicting upcoming crises and finding immediate measures to keep continue the momentum of country's development. If that's so, government must care about above mentioned last two principles out of threes to fulfill their enterprise.

The second is the principle of solidarity: individual members of society must always seek ways to promote the common good in their private decisions and actions. In this statement, a thing is highly identifiable that the representatives of common people will be included in this think tank to promote common good in country. A source reports that a greater part of this think tank will be the combination of some bureaucrats, political leaders and so on so. I think how they will act beyond their clash of who are more skilled between twos-political leaders and bureaucrats. Bureaucrats claim, they are more trained and appointed through open competitive contest but political leaders in most cases come from inferior status groups and are not equipped with sophisticated training procedure to enhance area of knowledge as done by officials. How they will go for the well being of the people to have tremendous confrontation under the framework of this think tank. So, my recommendation is to congregate prolific neutral persons who are outstanding in their own area belonging to professional character or they may be the civil society workers whose intention assembling public prospects.

The third is the common good-defined not as the greatest good for the greatest number, but as a social or juridical order that enables each member of society to seek his or her fullest development in all aspects. John Stuart Mill, the British political thinker suggests this jargon as the greatest good for the greatest number to explain his most dominant theory-utilitarianism. To me, it has never been suited with the democratic norms and values. Democratic standard always move forward with securing the common good of particular affair. So, this think tank will accumulate veterans connected with general masses who enable each member of society to seek his or her fullest development in all aspects. Our think tank will find the way, how could the political party be efficient in acting properly in its area and also be reformed with the needs of the country. A component is tremendously identifiable that in many emerging markets today, the role of think tanks in public policy making is just beginning.

Ours have a dominant market of garment industry from which country earns at least 56% of total foreign currency every year. The beginning process of think tank adjacent with market policy may be further used enhancing vehemently in the world market. In the age of globalization, various economically advanced countries like china, India, Japan has already put together its course of occupying world market with their native commodities through promoting sophisticated market policy framed by various think tanks situated within countries. Bangladesh's place between two dilemmas - "interest and interference" often disheartens the stable politics by foreign diplomats whose walks within country are now in question for their ghastly inclination. Only think tank with its stylish policy may frame a check point to intercept foreign diplomats' illicit move in country.

War policy taken by big countries in current world now launches banking on the instructions of think tanks of those particular countries. For instance, U.S stand on Iraq war was suggested by its one of the greatest and renowned think tank, Project for American Century. Presently the security of Bangladesh is now under threat for the attention triggered by big powers and neighbor countries aimed at crossing the frontier of Bangladesh and including Bangladesh under neighbor's shed through dismantling its shape. If it had an inimitable think tank, it could convene protecting sovereignty of Bangladesh as a forecaster. Coming up to this circumstances, needs of a unique think tank formulating policy and putting it into operation is imperative.