The Daily Morning Voice Online Desk: The world’s eight billion people have begun ushering in 2023 and bidding farewell to a turbulent 12 months marked by war in Europe, stinging price rises, Lionel Messi’s World Cup glory and the deaths of Queen Elizabeth, Pele and former pope Benedict.

With countdown and fireworks, revellers in major cities across the country, including Dhaka and Chattogram, ushered in the first new year without Covid restrictions since the pandemic began in 2020. Cox’s Bazar, one of the major tourist spots in Bangladesh, welcomed the new year with characteristic fervour, with thousands of tourists gathering at the beach resort town to welcome 2023 on the Gregorian calendar. Most hotels, motels, resorts, and guest houses were pre-booked by tourists, UNB reports.

Despite tight security, tourists and locals enjoyed the last sunset of 2022 on the beach and bid farewell to 2022. Masud Chowdhury and Samantha Rahman, a tourist couple from Narayanganj, said: “We welcome 2023 with a trip to Cox’s Bazar to let go of disappointment, sadness, and pain.” Abul Kashem Sikder, general secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners’ Association, said some 90 percent of rooms had already been reserved for the “31st night” (new year’s eve) celebration this year.

In Dhaka, people welcomed the new year with fireworks and sky lanterns, although Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Gulam Faruq said: “No one will be allowed to hold outdoor programmes, use of crackers, fireworks or sky lanterns (fanush) will also remain prohibited on 31st night.” Policemen, including plainclothes ones, were deployed to ensure security on the 31st night. Also, checkposts were set up in different parts of the city, and people had to undergo police checking.