Biggest News Stories Of 2019

The saying ‘Time and tide waits for none’ bears testimony to the fact that we are going to embrace another new year just a few days later. This year was definitely a frenetic news year as so many stories hit headlines and many of them are still making rounds on the social networking sites. Let’s look back at the stories that resonated most and created quite a stir among cross-sections of people this year.

AL takes charge for consecutive third term At the very outset of the year, on 3 January, Sheikh Hasina and other elected MPs of Bangladesh Awami League took oath. Awami League eventually formed government for the third consecutive term after winning a landslide victory at the 11th general election held on December 30, 2018. The Awami League-led grand alliance secured 288 seats while Jatiya Oikya Front bagged only seven seats.

DUCSU election
Two months later on March 11, the much-awaited Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election was held after a long hiatus of 28 years. Nurul Haque Nur, who led the quota reform movement, was elected as the vice president while BCL leaders Golam Rabbani (who had been forced to resign amidst allegation of corruption and moral degradation a few months ago) and Saddam Hossain bagged the posts of general secretary and assistant general secretary respectively. The panel backed by the pro-Awami League student organization swept the hall unions in the election that ended in intimidation with a voter turnout of only 59.5 percent. All rival organizations and groups boycotted the much-hyped polls alleging irregularities and vote rigging. Panels of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, leftists, quota reformists and independent panels separately demonstrated protests on the campus premises demanding re-elections. However it was not arranged again.

Dengue outbreak This year the mosquito-borne disease dengue took a heavy toll on our people (the urbanites to be particular) resulting in record-breaking number of patients infected with this virus. The number of dengue patients was nearly double of the total diagnosed with dengue recorded in the past 19 years. More than 100,000 patients were hospitalized this year while the number was only 50,176 from 2000-2018, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. The number of dengue patients hospitalized in the month of August this year alone was more than the figure of those admitted in the last 19 years, with an average of around 2,500 patients every day.

Unbridled price of onions 
Though price hike of daily commodities is a common phenomenon for the people of Bangladesh, this year they had to go through hard times owing to the sky-rocketing price of onions in the kitchen markets. Indian government banned the export of onion to Bangladesh with immediate effect until further order with a view to controlling the price of onions in their country on September 29. This ban accompanied by the greed of a section of unscrupulous businessmen of our country worsened the situation further and pushed its price beyond the reach of the people belonging to lower economic class. The consumers had to pay Tk. 260-270 for buying each kg of this essential cooking ingredient in the mid-November. Though the government imported onions from other countries to mitigate the daily needs, still the price was out of reach of the common people. However the price has, of late, come down to Tk. 90-110 per kg.  

Brahmanbaria train clash
For years railway has been considered as the safest way for commuters in Bangladesh. But this year several train accidents shook such belief. Among others, the accident of Brahmanbaria was a staggering one. At least 20 people including 5 children were killed in the accident that occurred when Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita, coming from Chittagong, crashed into Chittagong-bound Udayan Express, coming from Sylhet, near Mondobagh Railway Station around 2:45am on November 12. More than 70 others were also injured in the horrific accident.

Record-breaking success for Bangladesh in SA Games
This was a great year for the arena of games and sports of our country as our athletes performed comparatively better than the previous years in the recently-concluded South Asian Games held in Nepal from December 1-10. Bangladesh archers Ety Khatun and Roman Sana won gold medals in all the 10 archery events (both individual, and team events). Roman Sana, Sohel Rana and Ety Khatun bagged three gold medals each, with Ety becoming the first female athlete from the country to win three gold medals in a single edition of the Games. Bangladesh also made national record of securing most gold medals with 19 gold medals in a single edition of SA games. The overall tally of medals rose to 133 --- 19 gold, 34 silver and 80 bronze --- making it the most successful SA Games for Bangladesh.

Gruesome murders
Apart from these at least three sensational murder cases hit the headlines this year with people from different walks of life taking it to the street and creating a storm on different social networking sites. On the first half of April, Nusrat Jahan Rafi (19), an Alim examinee of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was killed brutally by setting fire on her body for protesting against unethical approaches and sexual assault committed by Siraj Ud Doula, the then principle of that Madrasa. Later, on October 24, all 16 accused including fired madrasa principal Siraj Ud Doula and Awami League leader Ruhul Amin were awarded death penalty. Two months later, Rifat Sharif (25), an internet service provider, was hacked to death in broad daylight in front of Barguna Government College on June 26, which turned into the talk of the town after the video of his wife trying hard to save her husband went viral on social media. In the last part of the year murder of 21-year-old BUET student Abrar Fahad, who was viciously beaten to death by a bunch of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on October 7, also came into the limelight and drew widespread criticism from all corners.

Fire incidents
Incidents of fire were on focus throughout the year. On the night of February 20, a massive fire tore through several multi-storey buildings on Nanda Kumar Lane in Chawkbazar’s Churihatta area of Old Dhaka killing 67 people on the spot and injuring many others. Four others succumbed to burn injuries in the hospital. Just 36 days later, at least 25 people died in a fire at FR Tower located in Dhaka’s Banani area. About 50 people were hospitalized after the incident. On December 11, a deadly fire --- sparked by a gas cylinder explosion --- broke out at Prime Plate and Plastic Industries Ltd factory in Chalkutia of Keraniganj leaving 22 persons dead.

Controversial list of Razakars
At the tail end of the year something happened that was a classic example of carelessness. Ahead of the 49th Victory Day of our nation, the government planned to publish the list of Razakars. In accordance with the plan, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry on December 15 published a list containing names and addresses of 10,789 people who it believed were Pakistan’s collaborators during the 1971 War of Liberation. But the list was immediately called into question as it was found that the names of a number of freedom fighters and pro-liberation individuals, including many from the Hindu community, were included in it. In the face of protests and much controversy the concerned ministry withdrew the list a few days later. However, many demanded apology from the respective minister as they thought it was a mistake unworthy of forgiveness.
Though this year witnessed a number of incidents that put the government in an embarrassing situation, it is also true that they earned appreciation for some of their activities as well. Anti-casino drive was such an instance that was welcomed by different quarters despite the fact that it was not lingered much and many other big fishes managed to avoid getting into serious trouble in the long run.