DHAKA: The nation welcomed the year 2015 with a new pledge to advance the country on a higher growth track after some exciting political developments in the previous year.

In the year that has just gone, the country experienced remarkable happenings that Bangladesh expected to sign three agreements namely ‘SAARC Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity)’, ‘Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst SAARC Member States’ and ‘SAARC Regional Agreement on Railways’.

Bangladesh and Philippines signed an agreement on March 6 to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports from either country.

Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 27 signed three deals, including an 'Agreement on Security Cooperation’ between the two countries, aiming to enhance cooperation on containing crimes.

The International Crimes Tribunal placed Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam, Jamaat assistant secretary general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman,  BNP leader Zahid Hossain Khokon alias Khokon Razakar, former Jamaat leader Mobarak Hossain, Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Jamaat-e-Islami and also intellectuals’ killer Mir Quasem Ali, a former Jatiya Party state ministerSyed Mohammad Qaisar, Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to imprisonment unto death.

The year is also notable for some other vital accidents, two launches capsized the Meghna River in Munshiganj, leaving at least104 people dead and several hundreds missing on May 6 and on July 4, other 36 people were killed as two passenger buses collided head-on in Natore.

The year 2014 was a great loss for the country’s different arena. The country lost some prominent figures, including Scientist Maqsudul Alam, Eminent actor Khalil Ullah Khan, Eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury, Journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, designer of National Memorial Syed Mainul Hossain, Eminent historian and National Professor Dr Salahuddin Ahmed, Abdul Matin (widely known as Bhasha Matin), singer Firoza Begum, Eminent singer Bashir Ahmed, Veteran journalist ABM Musa.

Despite the political conflicts, the whole nation is expecting peace, progress and stability in the country in the coming year to harness the prospects for a better future of the people.

On the eve of the New Year, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the people of the country through separate messages.

BDST: 0005 HRS, JAN 01, 2015