Timeline of Bangladeshi history

This is a timeline of Bangladeshi history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Bangladesh and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Bangladesh. See also the list of Presidents of Bangladesh and list of Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, and the list of years in Bangladesh.

16th century BC

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

7th century BC

Year	Date	Event 2014
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]

3rd century BC

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

1st century BC

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.

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)

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 Palashi. 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/ Indian 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.
1936	September	A. K. Fazlul Huq forms the Krishak Sranik Party.
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.
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.
1960		Dhaka Residential Model College Established.
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)
	26 March[5]	Major Ziaur Rahman broadcasts the declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over the radio.
	31 March	Kushtia resistance begins.[6]
	2 April	Jinjira genocide
	10 April	Formation of a provisional Bangladesh government-in-exile.[7]
	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[8]
	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.[9]
	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 January	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.[10]
	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.[3]
	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 to the constitution abolishes the parliamentary system and establishes a presidential system in its place.
	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.[3]
	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]
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.[16]
	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	India and Bangladesh sign a 30-year treaty on Ganges water sharing.[14]
1997	2 December	The 'Chittagong Hill tracts Peace Accord' is signed between Bangladesh government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti.[17]
1999	17 November	21 February 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.[18]

21st century

Year	Date	Event
2001	1 October	Bangladesh Nationalist Party secures a decisive victory at the Eighth General Election.
2002	1 January	Sale of polythene bags banned in Dhaka for environmental reasons.[19]
	5 February	Death penalty introduced for acid attacks.[20]
	29 August	Transparency International lists Bangladesh amongst the most corrupt nations.[21]
2004	20 May	Terrorist attack on British High Commissioner in Sylhet.[22]
	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.[23]
	25 February	Bangladesh peacekeepers ambushed and killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[24]
	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.He was buried in Tripura in India. On 27 October 2007, advisers of the Bangladeshi caretaker government decided to bring back his remains to Bangladesh and bury him besides Bir Shrestho Matiur Rahman.
2008	11 June	Sheikh Hasina released on parole. She flies to the USA for medical treatment.
	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.[25]
	25 May	Cyclone Aila ravages the south-west coast.
	19 November	Verdict on the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the Bangabandhu Murder Case.[26]
2010	28 January	Execution of five condemned killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[27]
2011	17 February	The Opening Ceremony of 2011 Cricket World Cup held in the venue Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
2013	5 May	Hefajot e Islam, a fundamentalist Islamic group, rally in Dhaka demanding death to Bangladeshi atheists and asking for strict application of Islamic laws.

See also

• Timeline of Dhaka

References