WE have said good bye to 2012 and like everyone else there is a list of wishes that we hope to see fulfilled.

We hope to see an attenuation of political tension. And for that the nub of the issue must be addressed headlong, the onus for which lies mainly on the AL. Unless it comes to grips with the issue of how the next election is going to be conducted we are afraid the existing abrasive nature of politics will only be accentuated. In spite of the PM’s out of hand dismissal of suggestions in this regard, she should consider the ideas that are being floated to ensure an acceptable and participatory election in 2014.

There is no alternative to discussions in this regard. The Supreme Court's ruling and subsequent constitutional amendment cannot be a stumbling block to an equitable solution. By the same token it is our expectation that not only would the BNP join the parliament, it would also abjure violence and destructive politics and convince its alliance partner, the JI, to shun violence too.

Alongside eschewing violence, it is our hope that the political parties should opt for other forms of protests rather than hartal to spare the public and the economy of its bad consequences.

We would hope too that the prices of essentials would be kept under control, and instead of increasing the cost of power and fuel, the government would concentrate on reducing system losses in this sector.

2012 has been a year of scams. We trust the government has learnt enough from these instances of gross negligence, complicity of the management in defalcation of public money, and lax oversight, to prevent repetition of the same.

It would give us immense pleasure to see the resumption of the Padma loan, and those behind the scam brought to justice.

We would like a much improved law and order than now, a more people friendly police, and resolution of the unresolved cases of kidnappings and murders of media and political personalities. While we are glad to note that extrajudicial killings have reduced considerably in the latter half of 2012, it should be brought to a zero.

And last but not least, we would like see the trial ofwar criminals the most important issue apart from politics run its course without being politicised.

A Happy New Year!