The fail-safe mechanism of political reform seems to be working well in Bangladesh, with enthusiasts-awakened to the realization of their inadequacies-restraining themselves from indulging in further facile meanderings. Awami League is now speaking with one voice and the breakaway BNP is going through an identity crisis. Jamat is intrinsically incapable of any meaningful reform and so is Ershad's Jatiya Party, the former being a religious party-religion cannot and should not be reformed- and the latter being a one-man show. On a wing and a prayer are the parties- leftist or whatever they are called-that have remained historically marginalized in Bangladesh politics. But the year 2008 is the year of election, so say the government and the Election Commission, and since an alternative is a taboo at this stage the question may arise as to which party or parties are going to come to power. In other words, will there be the same wine in a new bottle?

Nobody, not even its staunchest supporter, will give full marks to the current interim government. Cynics will glibly point to failures: 11% inflation, exorbitant food price, sluggish business, deteriorating traffic situation and so forth. At the same time nobody will dare visualize a venture into a return to the pre-1/11 anarchy. Indecision and the lack of prompt decision in some cases aside, the government's predicament in terms of its failures can be attributed to two major factors that were beyond the government's control. First, it was bad luck: there were two floods and the devastating Sidr, all happening in almost quick succession. Second, there was the international factor: oil prices rose to the record high-100 US dollars per barrel-sending on a spiralling flight the prices of other goods including foodstuff.

If not for anything else, the government deserves credit for setting an example of transparency and accountability in running administration in line with its firm commitment to combating corruption. Ironically, the action on the ground has led to creating an atmosphere of persistent fear and as a natural consequence to slowing down investment and other economic activities. While there is no compromising on the corruption issue as such, the government may well look the other way in situations that are of little or no significance and advise its functionaries to refrain from making statements that sound sinister even to the ordinary people.

Time and time again Bangladesh has proved that it is a peace-loving nation. The people supported the interim government because they had wanted to escape from mayhem. But food security is also an essential prerequisite for peace and we believe the government is sincerely aware of that.

All said, the general mood in 2008 is overwhelmingly in favour of change- change that promises vibrancy in all spheres of life. Whatever pessimism is there is all sourced from the trends and events in the past. We are talking about the new year and the inherent goodness of all the players responsible for shaping the future. We are not saying everything will go smooth but we are optimists.