Bangladesh celebrating New Year with hopes of more progress

Bangladesh is welcoming the New Year along with the millions of others across the globe with the hope that the new year will bring more possibilities for the people of the country.

New Zealand's Auckland has been the first to ring the welcome bell of the New Year because its orbital position on the globe, triggering the ripple effect of celebrations.

As the clock ticked 12am in Bangladesh, revellers filled Dhaka streets and lit the sky with fireworks.

Like most years, Dhaka University’s TSC square became the centre point of celebration where thousands of youths thronged at midnight. People also celebrated the New Year at different programmes at home or at posh hotels around the city.

It was a relatively peaceful year for the Bangladeshis. There was no political heat on the street in 2016, but the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery made global headlines. Some 22 people were killed in the attack, 17 of them foreigners including nine Italians and seven Japanese.

The end of the year was more comforting as the extremists appear to be cornered due to crackdown on militancy. But the killing of an incumbent member of parliament at the last day of the year put the law and order issue back of the government’s top agenda.

President Md Abdul Hamid has expressed optimistic views in his New Year's Eve message highlighting the positive financial indicators and willingness of the political parties to help form a new election commission that will conduct the next general election.

"Let the pledge of the New Year be marching forward toward development and prosperity on the basis of the past achievements and successes," the president said.

In the year 2016, pace of the mega projects, especially Padma Bridge and Metrorail, has been added to the government's development work. Other projects with priority also advanced towards completion.

The financial indices rose positively, though the people complained about price hike.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, has vowed to roll the wheel of economy further.

"The outgoing 2016 was a glorious year in the history of the Bangalee nation . . . let the new year bring in all our lives untainted happiness, peace and prosperity," she said.

Her political rival BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged everyone to unite to 'revive democracy'.

The prime minister, on the other hand, termed BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami obstacle to the trail of war criminals and path of development.

The terror attacks amidst sensational murders, including those of children and women, raise people's concern over security, but the authorities' tough stance against militancy is finally being hailed at home and abroad.

The government, however, had to face harsh criticism over attacks on the Hindus in Brahmanbarhia and the Santal tribe in Gaibandha. Local leaders of the ruling party were blamed for both incidents.

Another achievement of the year is through 'Mangal Shobhajatra', the traditional procession taken out on the Bangla New Year.

Being considered as a symbol of fight against communal terrorism and extremism, Mangal Shobhajatra has been recognised by the UNESCO cultural heritage. It was put on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in late November.