Timeline of Bangladeshi history

This is a timeline of Bangladeshi history. To read about the background to these events, see History of Bangladesh. See also the list of years in Bangladesh, list of Presidents of Bangladesh and list of Prime Ministers of Bangladesh.

This timeline is incomplete; some important events may be missing. Please help add to it.

Centuries: 16th BC - 15th BC - 14th BC - 13th BC - 12th BC - 11th BC - 10th BC - 9th BC - 8th BC - 7th BC - 6th BC - 5th BC - 4th BC - 3rd BC - 2nd BC - 1st BC - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th - 5th - 6th - 7th - 8th - 9th - 10th - 11th - 12th - 13th - 14th - 15th - 16th - 17th - 18th - 19th - 20th - 21st

16th century BC

Year Date Event
1600 BC Chalcolithic period. The Pandu Rajar Dhibi archaeological site dates to this period.

15th century BC

14th century BC

13th century BC

12th century BC

11th century BC

10th century BC

9th century BC

8th century BC

7th century BC

Year Date Event
700 BC Urban civilization emerges at Mahasthangarh, Bogra district, capital of the Pundravardhana area.

6th century BC

Year Date Event
600 BC Anga and Pundra Kingdoms emerge.
544 BC Conquest of the island of Lanka by Vijaya Singha of Kalinga according to the great chronicle of Mahavamsa.

5th century BC

Year Date Event
450 BC Urban civilization emerges at Wari-Bateshwar[1]

4th century BC

3rd century BC

Year Date Event
300 BC The kingdom of Gangaridai mentioned in an account by Greek traveller Megasthenes.

2nd century BC

1st century BC

1st century

2nd century

3rd century

Year Date Event
240 Gupta Empire (to 550 CE)
Sri-Gupta I (to 290)
290 Ghatotkacha (to 305)

4th century

Year Date Event
305 Chandra Gupta I (to 335)
335 Samudra Gupta (to 370)
370 Rama Gupta (to 375)
375 Chandra Gupta II (Chandragupta Vikramaditya), son of Samudra Gupta, the Gupta Empire achieved its zenith under his reign, the Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hsien describes Indian culture during his reign (to 415)

5th century

Year Date Event
415 Kumara Gupta I (to 455)
455 Skanda Gupta (to 467)
467 Kumara Gupta II (to 477)
477 Buddha Gupta (to 496)
496 Chandra Gupta III (to 500)
500 Vainya Gupta (to 515)

6th century

Year Date Event
510 Narasimha Gupta (to 530)
530 Kumara Gupta III (to 540)
540 Vishnu Gupta (to 550)
590 Reign of Shashanka, the first prominent king in the known history of Bengal. (to 625)

7th century

Year Date Event
625 Khadgodyama (to 640)
640 Jatakhadga (to 658)
658 Devakhadga (to 673)
673 Rajabhata (to 690)
690 Balabhata (to 705)

8th century

Year Date Event
750 Gopala, founder of the Pala Dynasty comes to power in Gaur through a democratic election.
Buddhist kings of the Pala Empire rule the entire subcontinent from Gauda. (to 1000)

9th century

Year Date Event
900 Rule of the Candra or Chandra dynasty in the Harikela (south-east Bangladesh) region. (to 1000)
950 Started of writing of Charyapada, the oldest writing form of Bengali language.

10th century

11th century

Year Date Event
1095 Hemanta Sen declares himself king of Bengal founding the Sena dynasty.
Rule of Sena Dynasty in Bengal. (to 1204)

12th century

13th century

Year Date Event
1204 Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khalji's conquest of Bengal. Onset of Muslim rule in Bengal.
Rule of the Turkic Khilji Maliks. (to 1226)
1226 Iltutmish, Sultan of Delhi, invades Bengal and kills Ghiyasuddin Iwaj Shah, the last Khilji ruler.
1227 Rule of the Mameluk Sultans of Delhi. (to 1281)
1281 Rule of the Mahmud Shahi dynasty. (to 1324)

14th century

Year Date Event
1328 Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah, the last ruler of the dynasty is defeated and killed by the army of the Delhi Sultanate.
1342 First period of rule by the independent Ilyas Shahi Dynasty. (to 1414)

15th century

Year Date Event
1415 The Ganesha Dynasty usurps power. (to 1436)
1436 Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah restores the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty.
Second period of rule by the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty. (to 1486)
1487 Jalaluddin Fateh Shah is assassinated by Habshi slaves.
Rule of the Habshi Sultans. (to 1494)
1494 Rule of the Hussain Shahi dynasty. (to 1538)

16th century

Year Date Event
1534 The Portuguese arrive at Chittagong and receive trade permits.
1538 Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah, the last Hussain Shahi Sultan and his Portuguese allies are defeated by Sher Shah Suri.
Humayun occupies Gaur, but leaves Bengal to Sher Shah Suri.
1575 Battle of Tukaroi between the Sultanate of Bangala and the Mughal Empire.
1578 Mughal Subahdar Khan Jahan invades the Bhati region of East Bengal, but is defeated by Isa Khan and his allies, near Kishoreganj.
1584 Mughal Subahdar Shahbaz Khan captures Sonargaon, capital of Isa Khan who then defeats the Mughal army in the battles of Egarasindhur and Bhawal to reclaim his lands.
1586 The second campaign of Shahbaz Khan. Isa Khan proposes peace and pretends loyalty.
1594 Raja Man Singh is appointed Subahdar of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
1597 Man Singh sends forces against Isa Khan but they are defeated in a naval battle near Vikrampur.

17th century

Year Date Event
1608 Subahdar Islam Khan's leads an expedition into Bengal to subjugate the local rulers then moves the provincial capital to Dhaka and renames it Jahangir Nagar. (to 1613)

18th century

Year Date Event
1757 Battle of Paulashy. a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal establishes Company rule in India.
1764 Battle of Buxar, another decisive company victory over local forces.
1770 Bengal famine of 1770 causes the death of 15 million people.
1793 Permanent Settlement Act imposed on Bengal.

19th century

Year Date Event
1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 also known as the Sepoy Mutiny breaks out.
1858 East India Company is dissolved and the British Raj begins.

20th century

Year Date Event
1905 Partition of Bengal.
1907 Haraprasad Shastri discovered Charyapad, the oldest known Bengali written form.
1913 Establishment of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Bangladesh in Brahmanbaria[2]
1921 Establishment of Dhaka University, the first university of Bengal territory (now Bangladesh).
1930 18 April Chittagong Armoury Raid by Surya Sen.
1934 12 January Surya Sen was hanged on 12 January 1934 by the British rulers following the arrest in February 1933.
1947 15 August Partition of British India, Pakistan and India become two independent states.
1948 11 March General strike by students protesting at the exclusion of Bengali as an official language.
21 March Governor-General of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah declares in a civic reception that "Urdu, and only Urdu" will remain as the state language.[3]
24 March Jinnah reasserts his 'Urdu-only' policy in a speech at Curzon Hall at the University of Dhaka.
28 March Jinnah reiterates his language policy on radio.
1949 23 June Formation of the Awami Muslim League
1952 21 February Bengali Language Movement reaches its peak as the police open fire on protesting students.
1953 17 April The Awami Muslim League becomes the Awami League.
September A. K. Fazlul Huq forms the Krishak Sranik Party.
1954 11 March The United Front wins most of the seats in the East Bengal Legislative Assembly.
30 May Governor General Ghulam Muhammad deposes United Front government and establishes Governor-rule.
1955 6 June The United Front government is reinstated, Awami League does not participate.
14 October 'East Bengal' renamed 'East Pakistan'.
1956 29 February Bengali becomes one of the state languages of Pakistan.
1958 7 October Constitution abrogated and martial law declared in Pakistan.
1963 21 February Inauguration of the Shaheed Minar language martyr memorial.
1966 Six point Bengali nationalist movement led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerges.
1968 Agartala Conspiracy Case filed by the government of Pakistan accusing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others of sedition.
1969 January Mass Uprising of '69 (ঊনসত্তরের গণ-অভ্যুত্থান) in East Pakistan. (to February)
25 March Ayub Khan resigns and Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan assumes power under martial law.
1970 12 November 1970 Bhola cyclone
7 December First general election in Pakistan. Awami League gains majority.
1971 2 March First hoisting of the National flag of Bangladesh (initial version) at the Dhaka University[4] by Vice President of Dhaka University Students' Union (DUCSU) leader A. S. M. Abdur Rab.
7 March Sheikh Mujibur Rahman makes his historic freedom speech.
25 March Pakistan Army launches Operation Searchlight at midnight on the 25th, marking the start of the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities. Sheikh Mujib is arrested. (to 26 March)
27 March Major Ziaur Rahman broadcasts the declaration of independence over the radio.
31 March Kushtia resistance begins.[5]
2 April Jinjira genocide
10 April Formation of a provisional Bangladesh government-in-exile.[6]
12 April M. A. G. Osmani takes command of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
17 April The government-in-exile takes oath at Mujibnagar.
18 April Battle of Daruin, Comilla and Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway, Chittagong Hill Tracts.
5 May Gopalpur massacre, workers slain by the Pakistani Army[7]
20 May Chuknagar massacre by the Pakistan Army.
24 May Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio station established in Kolkata.
11 July Sector Commanders Conference 1971. (to 17 July)
16 August Operation Jackpot, Bangladesh naval commando operation.
20 August Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman attempts to defect after hijacking a fighter plane.
5 September Battle of Goahati, Jessore.
28 September Bangladesh Air Force functional.
13 October Dhaka guerrillas kill Abdul Monem Khan, governor of East Pakistan.
28 October Battle of Dhalai Outpost, Srimongol.
9 November Six small ships constitute the first fleet of Bangladesh Navy.
16 November Battle of Ajmiriganj, an 18 hour encounter between MB Freedom Fighters and the Pakistan army.
20 November Battle of Garibpur between India and the Pakistan Army. (to 21 November)
21 November Mitro Bahini, a joint force of Bangladesh and Indian troops formed.
22 November Battle of Boyra, involving Pakistani and Indian air force.
3 December Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 breaks out. Bangladesh Air Force destroys Pakistani oil depots.[8]
4 December India officially invades East Pakistan.
6 December India becomes the first country to recognize Bangladesh. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra radio station becomes Bangladesh Betar.
7 December Liberation of Jessore, Sylhet and the Moulovi Bazar.
9 December Chandpur and Daudkandi liberated.
10 December Liberation of Laksham. Two Bangladeshi ships sunk mistakenly by Indian air attack.
11 December Liberation of Hilli, Mymensingh, Kushtia and Noakhali.
14 December Selective genocide of nationalist intellectuals, liberation of Bogra.
16 December Surrender of the Pakistan army and liberation of Dhaka.
22 December The provisional government of Bangladesh arrives in Dhaka from exile.
1972 9 February The 25-year Indo-Bangladeshi Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace is signed in Dhaka.
10 February Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returns to Bangladesh.
17 March Indian army leaves Dhaka.
19 March The prime ministers of Bangladesh and India sign the Joint River Commission bilateral working group.[9]
4 November Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is adopted by the Assembly.
16 December Constitution of Bangladesh becomes effective.
1973 7 March First general election in Bangladesh is held, Bangladesh Awami League secures a majority.
6 September Bangladesh joins the Non-Aligned Movement(NAM).
15 December Gallantry awards for wartime service published in the Bangladesh Gazette.
1974 Bangladesh famine of 1974 cause the deaths of over one million people.
22 February Pakistan recognizes Bangladesh.[10]
9 April A tripartite agreement is signed between Bangladesh, India and Pakistan regarding post-war humanitarian issues.[11]
17 September Bangladesh joins the United Nations (UN).[12]
28 December Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declares a state of emergency.
1975 25 January A fourth amendment the constitution abolishes the parliamentary system and establishes a presidential system system in its places.
25 February Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) established under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the single legitimate political party.
15 August Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
3 November On Jail Killing Day, four leaders of the liberation war are assassinated in prison.
7 November Major General Ziaur Rahman becomes deputy Martial Law Administrator.
1976 29 August Death of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
1977 21 April Ziar replaces Sayem as President.
30 May Ziar gains 98.9 percent of votes in a referendum on his continuance as president.[10]
3 June Supreme Court justice Abdus Sattar becomes vice president.
1 September Formation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP).
28 September Japanese Red Army terrorist group forces a hijacked Japan Airlines Flight to land in Dhaka.
1978 Bangladesh is elected to a two year term on the UN Security Council.
3 June Ziar wins presidential election and secures his position for a five-year term.
1979 18 February The 1979 General Election takes place. Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Ziar scores a decisive victory.[13]
1981 30 May Assassination of Ziaur Rahman.
1982 24 March Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad assumes power after a bloodless coup.
4 October Bangladesh signs a memorandum of understanding with India on water sharing over the following two years.[14]
1983 11 December Hussain Muhammad Ershad takes over as president.
1986 7 May At the 1986 General Election, a victory by the Jatiya Party consolidates Ershad's position.
1987 7 December Ershad dissolves parliament under opposition pressure.
1988 3 March Jatiya Party gains an overwhelming majority in the General Election with 68.44% of the votes.
2 December A devastating cyclone strikes Bangladesh.[15]
1989 26 April The Daulatpur-Salturia Tornado, one of the deadliest in world history hits Bangladesh.[16]
1990 6 December Ershad offers resignation.
1991 27 February Bangladeshi general election, 1991, Bangladesh Nationalist party snatches victory.
29 April 1991 Bangladesh cyclone kills more than 138,000.
1996 14 May Over 400 are killed as a tornado strikes northern Bangladesh.[17]
19 May Failed attempt of coup d'état by Lt. Gen. Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim, Bir Bikram.
12 June General election of '96, Bangladesh Awami League gains majority.
12 December a 30-year treaty on sharing of the Ganges water is signed between India and Bangladesh.[14]
1997 2 December The 'Chittagong Hill tracts Peace Accord' is signed between Bangladesh government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti.[18]
1999 17 November February 21 is declared International Mother Language Day in the 30th General Conference of UNESCO.
2000 20 March President Clinton becomes the first US president to visit Bangladesh.[19]

21st century

Year Date Event
2001 1 October Bangladesh Nationalist Party secures a decisive victory at the The Eighth General Election, .
2002 1 January Sale of polythene bags banned in Dhaka for environmental reasons.[20]
5 February Death penalty introduced for acid attacks.[21]
29 August Transparency International lists Bangladesh amongst the most corrupt nations.[22]
2004 20 May Terrorist attack on British High Commissioner in Sylhet.[23]
21 August 2004 Dhaka grenade attack by terrorist organization Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI).
2005 27 January Shah A M S Kibria assassinated in a grenade attack in the Habiganj District, Sylet.[24]
25 February Bangladesh peacekeepers ambushed and killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[25]
6 March Terrorist leader Siddique ul-Islam captured.
17 August Terrorist group JMB simultaneously detonates 500 bombs in 300 different locations.
2006 Grameen Bank and Muhammad Yunus are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2 March Terrorist leader Shaykh Abdur Rahman captured.
24 April A training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashes in the Jhenaidah District.
24 June Remains of Bir Sreshtho awardee Matiur Rahman are brought back to Bangladesh from India.
2007 11 January President Iajuddin Ahmed declares a state of emergency.
12 January Fakhruddin Ahmed takes the oath as the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government.
30 March Leaders of terrorist group JMJB are executed.
16 July Sheikh Hasina arrested on extortion charges and denied bail.
3 September Khaleda Zia arrested on corruption charges.
15 November Cyclone Sidr hits the coast, causing the death of around 3,500 people.
10 December The remains of Bir Sreshtho awardee Hamidur Rahman are bought back to Bangladesh.
2008 11 June Sheikh Hasina released on parole. She flies to the USA for medical treatment.
11 September Former First Lady Khaleda Zia freed on bail.
29 December Bangladeshi general election, 2008 takes place. Bangladesh Awami League secures a landslide victory. Sheikh Hasina becomes prime minister for the second time.
2009 6 January Sheikh Hasina assumed her office as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
25 February Mutiny staged by the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles. (to 27 February)
13 March Fire at Bashundhara City killes seven.[26]
25 May Cyclone Aila ravages the south-west coast.
19 November Verdict on the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Bangabandhu Murder Case.[27]
2010 28 January Execution of five condemned killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[28]
2011 17 February The Opening Ceremony of 2011 Cricket World Cup held in the venue Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

References

  1. ^ Banglapedia article on Wari-Bateswar ruins
  2. ^ [http://www.ahmadiyyabangla.org/Ahmadiyyat-in-Bangladesh.htm.
  3. ^ James Heitzman and Robert Worden (eds), ed (1989). "Pakistan Period (1947–71)". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Government Printing Office, Country Studies US. ISBN 0-16-017720-0. http://countrystudies.us/bangladesh/14.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  4. ^ Glassie, Henry and Mahmud, Feroz.2008.Living Traditions. Cultural Survey of Bangladesh Series-II. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Dhaka. p.580
  5. ^ ["Pakistan - Tbe battle of Kushtia". Time. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905021-1,00.html. Retrieved May 13, 2011. 
  6. ^ http://1971.uttorshuri.net/clippings/Congressional_Record.jpg
  7. ^ Locals still have nightmare about supreme sacrifices of Lt. Azim, 200 others The New Nation, Internet Edition, May 8, 2009
  8. ^ মুক্তিযুদ্ধে বিমান (Airplanes of liberation war), The Daily Prothom Alo, December 25, 2009
  9. ^ Joint Rivers Commission-BANGLAPEDIA
  10. ^ a b Libray of Congress-Bangladesh Country Studies
  11. ^ http://www.genocidebangladesh.org/?page_id=4
  12. ^ RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING ITS TWENTY-NINTH SESSION
  13. ^ http://www.albd.org/aldoc/50years_16.htm
  14. ^ a b http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/G_0023.htm
  15. ^ 1988: Bangladesh cyclone 'worst for 20 years' - BBC News
  16. ^ Tornado - April 1989, Bangladesh
  17. ^ Tornado kills more than 400 in Bangladesh - CNN
  18. ^ http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/C_0216.htm
  19. ^ President Clinton arrives in Bangladesh for historic visit - CNN
  20. ^ Bangladesh bans polythene-BBC
  21. ^ Bangladesh acid attackers may face death-CNN/
  22. ^ Asian nations among world's most corrupt
  23. ^ Nine held over Bangladesh bombing-BBC
  24. ^ Grenades kill Bangladesh lawmaker - CNN
  25. ^ U.N. troops 'die in Congo ambush'-CNN
  26. ^ At Least 7 Dead In Bangladesh Mall Fire CBS News. (DHAKA, Bangladesh, 13 March 2009).
  27. ^ "Bangladesh officers lose appeal". BBC. 19 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8366329.stm. 
  28. ^ "5 Bangabandhu killers hanged". thedailystar.net. January 28, 2010. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=123827.