An opportunity to question the politicians.

There will be weekly debates in the lead up to general elections in Bangladesh, which are expected to take place towards the end of 2008.

The Question Time style debates have given the people of Bangladesh a rare opportunity to engage in a direct dialogue with their political leaders.

We didn’t know that people like me could pose questions to politicians in this way   Bangladeshi housewife attending a video screening

They have proven to be highly popular and made an important contribution to discussions of governance issues in Bangladesh.

The last series attracted a weekly audience of over seven million people on BBC Bengali radio and partner television station Channel I.

Floating voters

In order to give remote communities an opportunity to join the debates, the programme will take to the water later this year on a boat traversing the country’s main rivers.

Four programmes will be broadcast during the boat’s month long tour of Bangladesh, including special programmes on the environment and climate change.

Other programmes will come from; Mymensingh, Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur, as well as the capital Dhaka.

Impact

Mahfuz Annam, the editor of the Bangladeshi newspaper the Daily Star said:

‘The most important contribution of the Sanglap process is that it has brought the voter, and the person seeking his or her vote, closer together.’

The impact of Bangladesh Sanglap (3.42 mins)

The Trust conducted a national survey to inform the development of the first Sanglap series.

The Pulse of Bangladesh

This initiative is supported by the UK’s Department for International Development, Bangladesh.