Bangladesh Post Special
Today is the first day of the year 2020. The New Year has come with the promise of peace, harmony and greater achievements in our personal, social and national life. No doubt, we shall face 2020 with the lessons we have learned from 2019. As Bangladeshis, we feel proud that the nation has been led judiciously by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for which the world now recognizes Bangladesh as the “Role Model of Development,” among the developing countries.
Researchers say that Bangladesh is ahead in many development indicators compared with many other South East Asian countries. Therefore, if the government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina can work unhindered by negative politics, we shall reach many more milestones and achieve the status of a developed nation by 2040.
The year 2019 had started on a happy note with the new government taking oath in January with Sheikh Hasina retaining her position as the Prime Minister for third consecutive term. The new cabinet had excluded some old leaders while a group of fresh faces were taken aboard. The mix of old and new leaders has created a desirable balance of power in the cabinet. This was done as per the vision of the Prime Minister to gradually bring young leaders to the forefront.
The cabinet members were faced with the biggest man-made adversity in the country’s history– the two-year old Rohingya crisis. Sheikh Hasina personally went around the globe explaining her small country’s predicament carrying the burden of 1.2 million Rohingya refugees.
She pleaded with all world leaders to persuade the Myanmar government to take back its nationals in a peaceful manner. But there has been no effective response from the Myanmar government in this regard. In over two years the refugees have destroyed acres after acres of forestry in and around Cox’s Bazaar. They were cutting down trees indiscriminately since arrival. They were also getting involved in crimes like smuggling of drugs, extortion, human trafficking and so on. Some anti-Bangladesh elements have been found to be active in and around the camps.
Though world leaders could not force Myanmar authorities to take back their own people, they, however, highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina’s role in providing shelters to such a large number of refugees in her country despite political and regional security risks. Despite the Rohingya bone stuck in the throat, the government never slowed down in fulfilling its election pledges. The first and foremost was to make commuting easier and comfortable for the residents of the metropolis. The work to complete the metro-rail project and the bus rapid transit expressway was given the needed impetus.
The much hyped Padma Bridge project received all the attention it demanded. As a result, work is going on in full swing to reach the deadline. Same is the story of other mega projects like Rooppur Nuclear Power plant and Matarbari Sea Port projects, where work is going on round the clock.
The nation last year was traumatized on a number of occasions as road and train accidents took many lives. The reckless driving by bus and truck drivers and carelessness of train drivers were behind the accidents. And despite some cases of homicide, law and order remained fairly under control of the law enforcers. In almost all the cases of major crimes, law enforcers could successfully apprehend the perpetrators. Then again, outbreak of dengue fever largely throughout the capital city and resulting deaths of over 100 people became a cause of concern for the government. Everything needed was done by the government and the outbreak was contained in October-November.
It is felt by political observers that more discipline is required to control violence on the campuses of public universities. The tragic death of a student from beating by fellow students inside a BUET dormitory came as a big shock to the countrymen. But, because of prompt action taken by the law enforcing members, it was possible to arrest all the perpetrators and put them in the jail.
Also violence on Dhaka University campus on simple matters greatly tarnished the image of this reputable educational institution. It seems, instead of spending time on ground-breaking research works, teachers and students are getting more involved in activities that are not desirable.
Last year, the government of Sheikh Hasina drew world attention by ordering the law enforcing agencies to conduct raids on various sporting clubs where illegal casinos were being operated by people close to the ruling party. As one after another empire started to fall, and names of party people started to surface, the PM ordered for more action to flush out everyone involved in the illegal business. She ordered not to check the identity of the people involved in this business.
Sheikh Hasina had earlier announced her policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ to corruption, and the raids on the dens of the millionaire casino operators was seen by the critics as the translation of her words into action. With ups and downs, with hopes and despairs, the year 2019 ended well for the countrymen. They now look forward to even a better year under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
