THE NEW Year 2022 of the Gregorian calendar has begun today with the rise of the sun this morning amid hopes of returning to a new normal life from the shadow of deadly Covid-19 as its latest variant Omicron sweeps across the world. Usually, the New Year’s Eve comes as an occasion for huge celebration around the globe, bidding farewell to the outgoing year. But, the pandemic has forced all nations to avoid public gatherings or extravaganza centering the New Year celebration this time as it did in 2020 and 2021. Jubilant people, particularly the young ones in Bangladesh, spent the last evening playing a New Year’s game at homes with family members rather than going out for a glitzy night in the town, with the clock hitting 12 midnight. The law enforcement authorities prohibited the explosion of firecrackers and outside gatherings in capital Dhaka and other divisional cities and district towns. People exchanged greetings and best wishes with their friends and beloved ones through different messaging applications and social media platforms.
The day is also a moment of looking back at the outgoing year for reviewing the successes and failures and planning strategies to reach new goals for the New Year, for accomplishing the unfinished tasks that need to be done in the coming days. The year 2021 was significant for Bangladesh as amidst the global pandemic, the country saw successes in major areas including economy, agriculture and the IT towards graduation as a developing country. The outgoing year also came with an extra significance since two giant celebrations — the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The outgoing year was marked, apart from Covid-19, also by launch fire, boat capsizes, earthquake, bridge collapse, fire incidents, heat wave, lightning, nor’westers and cyclonic storms. The pandemic infected a total of 147,837 persons killing about 27,000 of them while 139,017 others recovered. In the latest tragic launch fire, at least 47 lives were lost. Such a devastating accident was unheard in Bangladesh before. Besides, around 865 fire incidents, including explosion of gas lines and gas cyllinders took place in the country causing deaths to a number of people. Despite some stories of success the percentage of poor people doubled to 42. Yet we must look forward welcoming the new calendar year 2022 with a positive and broader frame of mind and pledge to avoid the mistakes and lapses noted in the year before.
