Bangladesh continues to prosper amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far infected over 80 million people and left around 1.8 million dead across the globe, and taken a huge toll on the domestic and international trade.
However, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country has kept showing its strength and political determination to serve humanity amid barriers like floods, cyclones and Covid-19, which has stalled most of the usual global activities.
Nothing stood in the way of Bangladesh when it came to confronting the challenges like the unknown characters of the coronavirus.
Bangladesh had a steady growth in the food production, which stunned many countries. The country also continues to be a leader in foreign exchange earning – all because of the administrative determination to continue business as usual despite the global pandemic.
While performing the professional duties, many of the ministers, officers, staff members and workers were either affected with the corona infection or lost in the fight against the deadly viral infection.
The challenge was mounting with time despite the suffering in all fronts. On one hand, the administration facilitated maximum efforts in keeping the business going as usual, on the other, medical professionals fearlessly offered their hands of care to treat and save lives of those affected by coronavirus.
This year was a year of challenges in combating the epidemic coronavirus. Many front-line doctors, law enforcers and other government officials successfully faced the global epidemic in performing their professional duties.
In fact, many of them also sacrificed their lives while serving the people. Many senior officials, including a state minister and two secretaries died in the epidemic.
Many top and field level officials, including a dozen ministers and state ministers, were also infected with the virus.
Due to the epidemic, 66 consecutive days of public holidays have been recorded this year. There was a small cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of the year.
The event of the scheduled deputy commissioner's conference could not be held due to the situation of corona infection.
The amendment on the suppression of violence against women and children, with the provision of the death penalty as the maximum punishment for rape, was at the center of the discussion. As protestors raised countrywide movement demanding the death penalty, government first made a presidential ordinance.
Former Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram Sultana Parveen was discussed for her controversial activities. The attack on Wahida Khanam, a former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, is another highlight of the year.
When no one was coming forward due to corona fears, many UNO and OC conducted funerals. Not only COVID-19, there were six floods and cyclones. Government officials also had to deal with these natural disasters.
This year witnessed the longest holiday periods. Due to the epidemic, there were 66 consecutive holidays.
One state minister and two secretaries died in Corona. State Minister for Religion Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah died on June 13. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury died on June 29 while undergoing treatment at CMH due to corona.
Naren Das, secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, died on July 21.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AQM Mozammel Haque, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Education Dipu Moni, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Environment, Forests and Climate Change were infected with the virus.
Shahab Uddin, State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Public Administration, Farhad Hossain, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Farooq and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam were also infected by COVID-19.
The event of the DC conference was not held due to the epidemic. The DC conference normally is held in July every year for direct exchange of views and necessary directions between government policy makers and deputy commissioners. But this year it was not possible. Due to the epidemic situation, the 2020 DC Conference is scheduled for January 5 to 6 next year. However, as the situation has not improved, it is no longer possible.
The offices of three ministers and the state minister were changed on February 13 this year. Among them, Housing and Public Works Minister Sham Rezaul Karim was transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. State Minister for Social Welfare Sharif Ahmed was made the Minister of State for Housing and Public Works. And the Minister of State for Fisheries and Livestock Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru was made Minister of State for Social Welfare. Faridul Haque Khan Dulal, a ruling party lawmaker from Jamalpur 2 constituency, was made the new state minister for the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Evaluating the administration's performance of this year, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told that Public Administration department played a leading role in all countries in the Covid-19 situation. The role of our public administration was excellent.
In COVID, our field administration, doctors, police and army had special responsibilities and they have been successful. All officials performed their duties with utmost sincerity, including controlling infections, properly delivering relief to the hands of the people and providing medical care, he added.