The whole world is celebrating as we stepped into the first day of New Year 2019 after Gregorian calendar’s 2018 came to a close.

Bangladesh ended 2018 with the 11th National Election. Still overcome with the heat of the polls’ seasons, analysts’ response on New Year aspirations revolved around politics and election.

The government must focus on building a county which is free of corruption and terrorism. The goal should also aim towards a tolerant Bangladesh with no communalism, they said.

Some experts emphasised on working with Human Rights development indexes along with the continuity of development.

Like each year, the whole world embraced the year 2019 on Monday midnight with new dreams, hopes and aspirations. Numerous events across the country including the capital were organised to welcome the New Year.

Bangladesh, in the last year, made significant progress towards the goal of making the country free of extremism, which was a resolution for the year 2018 and efforts are still on in this regard.

Continuing with the trend, the new administration, to be formed in the upcoming weeks, must take steps to address a number of challenges which the analysts say they see the government facing at present. 

Corruption, terrorism, communalism and a culture of intolerance top the list of challenges the new government will be facing, they said.

President of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir told Bangla Tribue, “We must continue on the victory we achieved on the eve of New Year.”

“The Awami League will fulfil the pledged made in their polls manifesto, that’s our hope,” he said. 

According to Kabir, it’s the civil society’s duty to keep the government on track.

Referring to the AL General Secretary’s call to exercise restraint, Kabir said, “This must be demonstrated everywhere and in all cases.”

“Tolerance and restraint must be reflected in running the state as well,” he said before adding, “While our economic growth will only continue to soar in its natural course, we must also make progress on the human rights indexes.”

“We all are human irrespective of our religion, colour and race. Let this truth be established,” he said.

Echoing a similar perception, Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism department chief Kaberi Gayen said let a culture of tolerance flourish.

“All of us are agitated and restless. We are not really pondering about our actions, let alone the implications,” she told Bangla Tribune.

“It’s time we attend ourselves and spend time introspecting. We need to ask ourselves, why we are doing what we are doing. What do we really want; we must ask these questions.” She added.

Democratic environment should be such, where differing opinions can thrive, said Gayen.

It’s not only in politics, but elaborated saying, “This needs to be incorporated in the media, social media and even personal lives.”

“Space must be created where we can move ahead together even if we dislike the other person or don’t agree with him/her,” she said. 

International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Rana Das Gupta told Bangla Tribune, “Majority of people voted from the perception that — they don’t want to see the war criminals in power like they voted in 1970 dreaming an independent Bangladesh.”

Gupta thinks it’s vital for the ruling party to start the foray into self-rectification which in the process, he says will drive the party’s leadership more people-focused.

According to Gupta, moving ahead should be complemented with undertaking the challenges of stamping out corruption, terrorism and communalism.

“The pledges, made in the manifesto, will be implemented in the next five years and progress will be made in terms of good governance; that’s what people expect,” he added.