DHAKA: Apart from disappointments generated by uncertainty created for political deadlock, killings, accidents, nationwide power outage and corruptions, the country experienced a number of achievements as well as developments in the year of 2014.
Below are the highlights of developments:
January 5 Election
General elections were held on 5 January 2014, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that the election must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the term of the 9th Jatiyo Sangsad amid boycott by almost all major opposition parties.
Amid huge criticism in home and aboard, 154 of the total 300 candidates were elected uncontested. Around 21 people were killed on polling day.
Maritime Boundary victory with India
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Netherlands awarded Bangladesh a total of 19,467 square kilometers maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal boundary against India on July 7.
The verdict said, “Bangladesh and India agreed that the location of the land boundary terminus was to be determined by application of the 1947 award rendered by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, Chairman of the Bengal Boundary Commission (the “Radcliffe Award”), as well as Notification No. 964 Jur. of the Governor of Bengal of 1925.”
Tigers Whitewashed Zimbabwe
Bangladesh completed a whitewash today in the three-match Test series against Zimbabwe.
The tigers whitewashed Zimbabwe in the full-length ODI series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
IPU, CPA, ITU leaderships
Saber Chowdhury was elected the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for a three-year on 16 October 2014.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has become the first Bangladeshi to be elected the chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on October 9, 2014.
Bangladesh has been elected an executive member of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the second time.
ICC (Int’l Cricket Council) ICC (Int’l Chamber of Commerce)
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has become the first from Bangladesh to be president of International Cricket Council (ICC).
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He was elected as the 11th president of the governing body at the ICC annual conference in Australia’s Melbourne on Thursday.
Latifur Rahman, Vice-President of the International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICC,B) has been elected member of the Executive Board of the Paris-based ICC for a three-year term starting from July 2014.
Elevated Expressway construction begins
Ending all uncertainties, the construction works of much-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway, linking from Airport to Jatrabari, began on October 30.
“The city dwellers will get the actual benefit of the expressway in 2017,” said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader while inaugurating the construction works in the city’s airport area.
Padma Bridge construction starts
About 14% of the Padma Bridge project, including approach roads, rehabilitation have already begin and the main construction work of the bridge will begin soon.
Deal signed with CERN
Bangladesh has moved one major step closer towards the advanced science and technology through signing an international co-operation agreement with CERN, the European organisation for nuclear research, in Geneva.
BCIM Corridor, Silk Route
China, Bangladesh on November 6 pledged to make joint efforts to build an economic corridor, linking Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM).
Dhaka, China deal on culture
Bangladesh and China on May 28 signed an agreement to expand cultural ties between the two countries.
Important personalities’ Visit to Dhaka
Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit on Dec 6, 2014, accepting an invitation from his Bangladesh counterpart.
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Dhaka on September 6 on a two-day official visit which is considered as significant in strengthening political and economic ties between Dhaka and Tokyo.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit on June 6.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad arrives Dhaka on March 15 to attend the second convocation of the University of Information, Technology and Sciences (UITS) to be held here on the same day.
BDST: 1625 HRS, DEC 27, 2014
