History of Bangladesh in Timeline
Bangladesh is a South Asian nation, officially known as the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It's the eighth most populous and one of the most densely populated countries globally, with over 171 million residents within 148,460 square kilometers. It shares borders with India and Myanmar and has a coastline on the Bay of Bengal. Dhaka is the capital and largest city, serving as its political, financial, and cultural hub, while Chittagong is the second-largest city and a major port.
February 1905: Record low temperature in Dinajpur
On 3 February 1905, Bangladesh recorded its record low temperature of 1.1 °C (34.0 °F) in the northwest city of Dinajpur.
1905: Bengali patriotic songs use the term Bangladesh
In 1905, Bengali patriotic songs such as Aaji Bangladesher Hridoy by Rabindranath Tagore used the term 'Bangladesh'.
1913: Picture House begins operation
Picture House, the first permanent cinema in Dhaka, began its operation during the year between 1913 and 1914.
1914: Picture House begins operation
Picture House, the first permanent cinema in Dhaka, began its operation during the year between 1913 and 1914.
1921: Establishment of the University of Dhaka
In 1921, the University of Dhaka, the oldest public university in Bangladesh, was established.
1929: Release of Sukumari
In 1929, Sukumari (The Good Girl) was released as the first film produced in Bangladesh.
1931: Release of Last Kiss
In 1931, Last Kiss, the first full-length feature film, was released in Bangladesh.
1932: Bengali patriotic songs use the term Bangladesh
In 1932, Bengali patriotic songs such as Namo Namo Namo Bangladesh Momo by Kazi Nazrul Islam, used the term 'Bangladesh'.
August 1947: Partition of Bengal
In August 1947, the borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal between India and Pakistan by the Radcliffe Line during the partition of India on August 15, 1947, when the region became East Bengal as the eastern wing of the newly formed Dominion of Pakistan.
1947: Number of Cinemas Listed
By 1947, a total of 80 cinemas were listed in Bangladesh.
1949: Formation of the All Pakistan Awami Muslim League
In 1949, the All Pakistan Awami Muslim League was formed.
1950: Land reform in East Bengal
In 1950, the East Bengal Legislative Assembly enacted land reform, abolishing the Permanent Settlement and the zamindari system.
1952: Bengali language movement
In 1952, the Bengali language movement took place, resulting in the Language Movement Day being celebrated on 21 February in remembrance of the martyrs.
1953: Awami Muslim League renamed as Awami League
In 1953, the Awami Muslim League was renamed as a more "secular" Awami League.
1954: Dissolution of first constituent assembly
In 1954, the first constituent assembly was dissolved and the United Front coalition swept aside the Muslim League in a landslide victory in the 1954 East Bengali legislative election.
1956: Release of Mukh O Mukhosh
In 1956, Mukh O Mukhosh (Face and Mask), the first Bengali-language film in East Pakistan, was released.
1956: Pakistan adopts a new constitution
In 1956, Pakistan adopted a new constitution.
1957: Establishment of Film Development Corporation
In 1957, the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation was founded in Dhaka, which later became the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation.
1958: Establishment of Film Development Corporation
In 1958, the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation was founded in Dhaka, which later became the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation.
1958: Martial law imposed by Pakistan Armed Forces
In 1958, the Pakistan Armed Forces imposed martial law, following a coup d'état, with Ayub Khan establishing a dictatorship for over a decade.
1959: Release of Akash ar Mati
In 1959, Akash ar Mati (Sky and Earth) was released as the second Bengali-language film in East Pakistan.
1961: Release of Kokhono Asheni
In 1961, Zahir Raihan made Kokhono Asheni.
1962: New constitution and Dhaka becomes seat of National Assembly
In 1962, a new constitution was introduced, replacing the parliamentary system with a presidential and gubernatorial system. In 1962, Dhaka became the seat of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
1964: Release of Shangam
In 1964, Zahir Raihan's Shangam, the first color film in Pakistan, was released.
1966: Six-point movement announced by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
In 1966, Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced a six-point movement for a federal parliamentary democracy.
1966: Establishment of the University of Chittagong
In 1966, the University of Chittagong, which has the largest campus in Bangladesh, was established.
1969: 1969 uprising in East Pakistan
In 1969, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was released during the 1969 uprising in East Pakistan which resulted in Ayub Khan's resignation, General Yahya Khan assumed power, reintroducing martial law.
December 1970: Awami League wins majority in National Assembly
After the December 1970 elections, the Bengali-nationalist Awami League won 167 of 169 East Pakistani seats in the National Assembly.
1970: Release of Jibon Theke Neowa
In 1970, Zahir Raihan made Jibon Theke Neowa.
1970: Cyclone devastates East Pakistan
In 1970, a cyclone devastated the coast of East Pakistan, killing an estimated 500,000 people.
March 1971: Operation Searchlight
In March 1971, Mujib's 7 March Speech led to a non-cooperation movement. The autocratic Pakistani government then initiated Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971 in response. Mujib signed the Proclamation of Independence on 26 March 1971.
July 1971: Hoisting the Bangladesh flag on foreign land
On July 25, 1971, Zakaria Pintoo, the captain of the Shadhin Bangla football team, became the first person to hoist the Bangladesh flag on foreign land before their match in neighboring India.
December 1971: Bangladesh becomes a sovereign nation
In December 1971, Bangladesh achieved independence as a sovereign nation after a successful armed revolution led by the Mukti Bahini, with assistance from Indian forces, following a genocide and the surrender of Pakistan on December 16, 1971.
December 1971: Culmination of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation
In December 1971, the nine-month-long bloody liberation war led to a genocide, and the culmination of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation following Pakistani surrender on 16 December 1971.
1971: Problematic relationship with Pakistan
Post-independent Bangladesh has continued to have a problematic relationship with Pakistan, mainly due to its denial of the 1971 Bangladesh genocide.
1971: Poverty rate in Bangladesh
Since the 1980s, Bangladesh has achieved significant economic growth and reduced its poverty rate from 80% in 1971.
November 4, 1972: Enactment of the Constitution of Bangladesh
The Constitution of Bangladesh was enacted on November 4, 1972.
1972: Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth of Nations
In 1972, Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth of Nations, marking its entry into this international organization.
1972: Release of Ora Egaro Jon
In 1972, Ora Egaro Jon, the first movie post-Independence, was directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam and released.
1973: National football team debut
Following independence, the national football team of Bangladesh made its debut in 1973.
1974: Bangladesh joined the United Nations and the OIC
In 1974, Bangladesh joined the United Nations and the OIC, expanding its role in global diplomacy and international relations.
1974: Large famine
In 1974, efforts to establish one party socialism and a large famine led to Mujib's assassination in 1975.
1975: Assassination of Mujib
In 1975, Mujib's assassination in 1975, whose popularity had experienced a significant decline among the general populace.
1975: Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
In 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country post-independence, was assassinated in 1975. Following his assassination, presidency was later transferred to Ziaur Rahman.
1975: Chittagong Hill Tracts insurgency
In 1975, the Chittagong Hill Tracts region experienced unrest and an insurgency due to an autonomy movement by its indigenous people.
1980: AFC Asian Cup participation
In 1980, the national football team of Bangladesh achieved the feat of participating in the AFC Asian Cup.
1981: Assassination of Zia
Following Zia's assassination in 1981, the ensuing decade was a military dictatorship under Hussain Muhammad Ershad which saw infrastructural development, devolution reforms, privatization of nationalised industries and the declaration of Islam as the state religion in 1988.
1985: Total fertility rate in Bangladesh
In 1985, Bangladesh's total fertility rate was 5.5.
1988: Islam declared as state religion
In 1988, the declaration of Islam as the state religion happened.
1990: Overthrow of Hussain Muhammad Ershad
In 1990, the dictatorship of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, which dominated the 1980s, was overthrown in a mass uprising in 1990.
1990: Forest cover
In 1990, the forest cover in Bangladesh was 1,920,330 hectares (ha).
1991: Restoration of parliamentary democracy
After the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991, power alternated between Khaleda Zia of the BNP and Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, an era dubbed the "Battle of the Begums".
1991: Democratisation
Following the democratisation in 1991, the "Battle of the Begums" between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina defined the country's politics for the next three decades from 1991 onward.
1991: Poverty rate in Bangladesh
Since the 1980s, Bangladesh has achieved significant economic growth and reduced its poverty rate to 44.2% in 1991.
May 1994: Ratification of Rio Convention on Biological Diversity
Bangladesh ratified the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 3 May 1994.
1995: Total fertility rate in Bangladesh
In 1995, Bangladesh's total fertility rate decreased to 3.7.
1995: Enactment of Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act
The Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act was enacted in 1995.
1996: Peak Movie Production
Between 1996 and 2003, the film industry in Bangladesh was at its peak, producing about 80 movies each year.
1997: Parliamentary act to reserve seats for female candidates
In 1997, a parliamentary act was passed in Bangladesh to reserve three seats (out of 12) in every union for female candidates.
1997: Peace accord in Chittagong Hill Tracts
In 1997, a peace accord was signed to address the Chittagong Hill Tracts insurgency, although the region remained militarised.
September 1998: Severe flooding
In September 1998, Bangladesh experienced the most severe flooding in modern history, with two-thirds of the country underwater and a death toll of 1,000.
1998: Bangladesh joined the Convention against Torture
In 1998, Bangladesh joined the Convention against Torture, committing to prevent torture within its jurisdiction.
1999: First Cricket World Cup participation
In 1999, the Bangladesh national cricket team participated in their first Cricket World Cup.
1999: International Mother Language Day declared by UNESCO
In 1999, the Language Movement Day, celebrated on 21 February, was declared as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO.
2002: Bangladesh and China signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement
In 2002, Bangladesh and China signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement, strengthening their military ties.
2002: FIPRESCI Award for Matir Moina
In 2002, Tareque Masud was honoured by FIPRESCI at the Cannes Film Festival for his film Matir Moina (The Clay Bird).
2002: Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water
In 2002, it was estimated that half of the drinking water in Bangladesh was polluted with arsenic, exceeding levels of 10 micrograms per litre.
2003: Peak Movie Production
Between 1996 and 2003, the film industry in Bangladesh was at its peak, producing about 80 movies each year.
2004: Anti Corruption Commission formed
The Anti Corruption Commission was formed in Bangladesh in 2004 to combat corruption.
2006: Anti Corruption Commission active during political crisis
The Anti Corruption Commission in Bangladesh was active during the 2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis, indicting many leading politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen for graft.
2007: National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh was set up
In 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh was established to address human rights concerns.
2007: South Asian floods
The 2007 South Asian floods ravaged areas across Bangladesh, leaving five million people displaced, with a death toll around 500.
2008: Citizenship for Urdu-speaking Pakistanis
In 2008, the Supreme Court granted citizenship to Urdu-speaking stranded Pakistanis.
2008: Awami League victory in general election
The return of the Awami League to power following a landslide victory in the 2008 general election under Sheikh Hasina's leadership saw unprecedented economic progress alongside democratic backsliding, increasing authoritarianism, endemic corruption, and widespread human right abuses.
2009: Bangladesh electricity production
Bangladesh increased electricity production from 5 gigawatts in 2009.
2009: Bangladesh experienced daily blackouts
In 2009, Bangladesh, a country experiencing daily blackouts several times a day.
2010: First Bangladeshi Climber to Conquer Mount Everest
In 2010, mountain climber Musa Ibrahim became the first Bangladeshi climber to conquer Mount Everest.
2011: Hindu Population Percentage in Bangladesh
In the 2011 census, Hindus formed 8.54% of the population in Bangladesh.
2012: Domestic spending generated 97.7 percent of direct travel
Domestic spending generated 97.7 percent of direct travel and tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.
2012: Asia Cup Final
In 2012, Bangladesh reached the final of the Asia Cup.
2013: Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act enacted
In 2013, Bangladesh enacted its first anti-torture law, the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act.
2013: UNESCO Classification of Jamdani
In 2013, Jamdani, a unique design on fine muslin woven on Persian motifs in Dhaka, was classified by UNESCO as an Intangible cultural heritage.
2014: Revision of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
As of 2014, Bangladesh was set to revise its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
2014: Hasina wins second consecutive term
In 2014, Hasina won her second consecutive term in the 2014 general elections which were a sham and neither free or fair.
2015: Forest ownership
For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area in Bangladesh was reported to be under public ownership.
2015: Cricket World Cup Quarter-Final
In 2015, Bangladesh reached the quarter-final of the Cricket World Cup.
2015: Land administration was the sector with the most bribery
In 2015, land administration was the sector with the most bribery in Bangladesh, followed by education, police and water supply.
2016: Asia Cup Final
In 2016, Bangladesh reached the final of the Asia Cup.
2016: UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage enlistment
In 2016, the annual Mangal Shobhajatra (Bengali New Year parade) organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka on Pohela Boishakh was enlisted as an Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
2016: Rohingya refugee crisis began
Relations with neighbouring Myanmar became severely strained since 2016 after over 700,000 Rohingya refugees illegally entered Bangladesh.
2017: ICC Champions Trophy Semi-Final
In 2017, Bangladesh reached the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
2017: Rohingya refugee crisis strained relations with Myanmar
In 2017, relations with neighbouring Myanmar were severely strained due to the influx of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees illegally entering Bangladesh.
2017: Rohingya refugee crisis
Since 2017, Bangladesh has given shelter to over a million Rohingya refugees fleeing the Rohingya genocide.
2017: Influx of Rohingya refugees
Since 2017, Bangladesh has hosted over 700,000 Rohingya refugees, resulting in one of the world's largest refugee populations.
2018: Bangladesh's ranking on Corruption Perceptions Index
Bangladesh was ranked 146th among 180 countries on Transparency International's 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting ongoing issues with institutional corruption.
2018: Asia Cup Final
In 2018, Bangladesh reached the final of the Asia Cup and the Bangladesh women's national cricket team won the 2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup.
2018: Hasina wins third consecutive term
In 2018, Hasina won her third consecutive term in the 2018 general elections which were a sham and neither free or fair.
2018: Jobs generated by the travel and tourism industry
The World Travel and Tourism Council reported in 2019 that the travel and tourism industry in Bangladesh directly generated 1,180,500 jobs in 2018.
2019: International tourism receipts
Bangladesh's international tourism receipts in 2019 amounted to $391 million.
2019: Bangladesh ratified the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
In 2019, Bangladesh ratified the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
2019: Archery Gold Medals at South Asian Games
In 2019, Bangladeshi archers Ety Khatun and Roman Sana secured multiple gold medals, winning all 10 archery events (both individual and team events) at the South Asian Games.
2019: Deaths due to air pollution
The World Bank estimated that roughly 80,000-90,000 deaths occurred in Bangladesh due to the drastic effects of air pollution in 2019.
2020: Population density in Bangladesh
As of 2020, Bangladesh had a headline population density of 1,265 people/km.
2020: Maternal Mortality Rate
As of 2020, the maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh remained high, clocking in at 123 per 100,000 live births.
2020: Forest cover
In 2020, Bangladesh's forest cover was around 14% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,883,400 hectares (ha) of forest, with naturally regenerating forest covering 1,725,330 hectares (ha) and planted forest covering 158,070 hectares (ha).
2020: Under-19 Cricket World Cup win
In 2020, the Bangladesh national under-19 cricket team won the men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
2020: First conviction under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act
In 2020, the first conviction under Bangladesh's Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act was announced.
December 2021: US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion commanders
In December 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on commanders of the Rapid Action Battalion for extrajudicial killings, torture, and other human rights abuses.
2021: Estimated number of enslaved people in Bangladesh
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 1.2 million people were enslaved in Bangladesh as of 2021, which is among the highest in the world.
2021: Literacy rate in Bangladesh
As of 2021, Bangladesh had a literacy rate of 76%, with 79% for males and 71.9% for females.
2021: Healthcare Statistics in Bangladesh
As of 2021, approximately 2.36% of Bangladesh's total GDP was attributed to healthcare, with only 5.3 doctors per 10,000 people.
2021: Bangladesh military budget
In 2021, the military budget of Bangladesh accounted for 1.3% of GDP, amounting to US$4.3 billion.
July 2022: Bangladesh temporarily stopped buying spot price LNG
Bangladesh stopped buying spot price LNG temporarily in July 2022 due to a steep price hike in the global market.
2022: Hindu Population Percentage in Bangladesh
According to the 2022 census, Hindus form 7.95% of the total population of Bangladesh.
2022: Life Expectancy in Bangladesh
As of 2022, the overall life expectancy at birth in Bangladesh was 74 years (72 years for males and 76 years for females).
2022: Bangladesh achieved 100% electrification
Bangladesh achieved 100% electrification by 2022.
2022: Population of Bangladesh
Bangladesh had a recorded population of 169.8 million in the 2022 census.
2022: Bangladesh electricity production
Bangladesh increased electricity production to 25.5 gigawatts in 2022.
2022: Bangladesh ranked in the Global Peace Index
In 2022, Bangladesh was ranked 96th among 163 countries in the Global Peace Index.
2022: Access to Drinking Water
In 2022, roughly 60% of the population in Bangladesh had access to drinking water.
2022: SAFF Women's Championship win
The Bangladesh women's national football team won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2022.
February 2023: Bangladesh restarted buying spot price LNG
Bangladesh restarted buying spot price LNG once again in February 2023 as prices eased.
2023: Global Slavery Index report on Bangladesh
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 1.2 million people were enslaved in Bangladesh as of 2021, which is among the highest in the world.
2023: Unemployment rate
As of 2023, Bangladesh has a labor force of 71.4 million, with an unemployment rate of 5.1%.
2023: Service sector accounts for about 51.5% of total GDP
As of 2023, the large service sector accounts for about 51.5% of total GDP in Bangladesh, followed by the industrial sector (34.6%), while the agriculture sector makes up only 11% of total GDP.
2023: U-19 Asia Cup win
In 2023, the Bangladesh national under-19 cricket team also won the U-19 Asia cup.
2023: Digital Security Act repealed and replaced by Cyber Security Act
In 2023, the widely criticized Digital Security Act was repealed and replaced by the Cyber Security Act.
2023: Population of Bangladesh
The population of Bangladesh rose to 171.4 million as of 2023.
August 2024: Hasina forced to resign
Following a student-led mass uprising against the authoritarian government, Hasina was forced to resign and flee to India on 5 August 2024. An interim government was formed on 8 August 2024, with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser.
August 2024: Student-led mass uprising overthrows Hasina
In August 2024, Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in a student-led mass uprising. Following this event, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed in August 2024.
November 2024: Cellphone subscribers in Bangladesh
At the end of November 2024, Bangladesh's telecommunications industry had 188.78 million cellphone subscribers.
2024: World Press Freedom Index Ranking
Bangladesh ranked 165th out of the 180 countries listed in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, among the lowest rankings in the world.
2024: Global Hunger Index Ranking
In 2024, Bangladesh was ranked 84th out of the 127 countries listed in the Global Hunger Index.
2024: Diaspora remittances
In 2024, Bangladesh's large diaspora contributed roughly $27 billion in remittances.
2024: U-19 Asia Cup win
In 2024, the Bangladesh national under-19 cricket team also won the U-19 Asia cup consecutively.
2024: SAFF Women's Championship win
In 2024, the Bangladesh women's national football team won the SAFF Women's Championship consecutively.
2024: Bangladesh Armed Forces personnel strength
In 2024, the active personnel strength of the Bangladesh Armed Forces was around 230,000, including the Air Force (21,000) and the Navy (27,000).
2025: First unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant expected to go into operation
The first unit of the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to go into operation in 2025.
2041: Bangladesh electricity production target
Bangladesh plans to produce 50 gigawatts of electricity by 2041.
2050: Estimated impact of sea level rise
It is estimated that by 2050, a three-foot rise in sea levels will inundate some 20 percent of the land in Bangladesh and displace more than 30 million people.
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