Form a think tank
I strongly feel that in Bangladesh the non-political Shushil Shamaj should form a formal think tank like the Fabian Society in England. Such a body would have enormous persuasive power to influence any ruling party and lawmakers to bring in legislation for the good of the country with a vision of the future. Safe from the hurly burly of politics and policies and machinations to hold on to power from one general election to the next, such a body of learned and involved people would be able to look at the long-term issues for the country.
Recently the Fabian Society has published a booklet under their theme of 'Life Chances and Equality' : Fabian ideas 623 and entitled 'How to Defend Inheritance Tax'. This is a booklet full of wisdom for fairness and taxing of transfer of wealth across generations for redistribution of wealth in society. In the past I have written various letters in Bangladesh newspapers for introducing such a hefty tax for gifts or other wealth transfers (above certain value) and for death duties (above certain valuation of estate at death). In addition to redistribution of wealth in society, for a developing democracy like Bangladesh it will also act as a curb on corruption and dynastic oligarchic ambitions.
Many intellectuals and Nobel Laureates have been involved with the Fabian Society (Bertrand Russell, George Barnard Shaw etc), and although it is affiliated to Labour ideals of fairness, equality and socialism, it is basically a non political think-tank. I implore Professor Yunus and other intellectuals of the country to create a forum and establish such a non-political think-tank for Bangladesh.
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