Dhaka, Jan 1 — Bangladesh and the rest of the world bid adieu to 2020, a year many would like to forget, and welcomed 2021 with hopes that the new year will be different – and better.
The coronavirus pandemic, which overshadowed lives last year and brought the world to its knees, is still raging but vaccines are giving people hope that it will be possible to return to the normal life before the virus had hit.
Restrictions put in place to prevent the transmission of the virus resulted in the cancellation of events that went on late into the night in previous years.
Bangladesh, like every other nation, was hit hard by the pandemic and saw its growth come to a screeching halt but the country is on its way to recovery.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the nation on the eve of the new year.
In a message, the President urged the people to follow health guidelines while celebrating the occasion which has become somewhat pale because of the pandemic.
Prime Minister Hasina, in her message, said the pandemic has marred the celebrations of independence and Bangabandhu’s birth centenary.
She said she had issued a 31-point directive to tackle the pandemic and gave a Tk 121,353 crore incentive under 21 packages to keep the economy running and continue the development works.
“The coronavirus pandemic has given the world a message that … any global problem can be faced through mutual cooperation and partnership,” she said.
People celebrated the advent of the New Year through indoor household programmes and exchange of greetings through the social media. The New Year’s Day being a weekly holiday gave people an opportunity to visit recreation sites across the country.
There was a rush of visitors to have a glimpse of the Padma Bridge which is nearing completion- UNB
