Bangladesh's history includes Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, independence from Pakistan in 1971, and a rich cultural heritage from the 3rd century BCE.
The Vanga Kingdom, an early Iron Age Kingdom, is considered the precursor to present-day Bangladesh. The name 'Bangla' originated from 'Banga', another term for Vanga. Dravidian-speaking people settled in the region during this time.
Bengal Subah, also known as Mughal Bengal, governed present-day Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The region transitioned from Hindu and Buddhist traditions to Islamic practices. It became prosperous, contributing significantly to the world's GDP due to advancements in industrialization.
In 1576, Akbar the Great of the Mughal Empire conquered much of India, including the region that would later become Bangladesh. The Mughals referred to the land as 'Bang' in reference to the Vanga people and kingdom.
The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757, between the British East India Company forces led by Robert Clive and the local Mughal ruler Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal. The British victory led to the establishment of British colonial rule in Bengal.
Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal on July 20, 1905, creating East Bengal with a Muslim majority. The move was believed to offer better opportunities for East Bengali Muslims.
Muslim leaders in Dhaka established a party and pledged loyalty to the British for protection of Muslim interests.
The British reversed the partition and announced the relocation of India's capital to Delhi.
The Muslim League and Indian National Congress agreed on separate electorates and provincial weightage for minorities, reducing Bengali Muslim seats.
Fazlul Huq proposed the Lahore Resolution, which did not aim for a united Pakistan as it used the term 'states'.
In late 1941, Fazlul Huq reestablished his government without the Muslim League's involvement, leading to political tensions and opposition from members like Khawaja Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy.
On 24 April 1943, Khawaja Nazimuddin inaugurated his own ministry after Fazlul Huq resigned under pressure, which was met with disapproval from the Viceroy and the governor due to his handling of the famine.
The 1946 elections in Bengal were mainly contested between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, with the latter winning a significant majority of seats, paving the way for discussions on the creation of Pakistan.
The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the separation of Bengal between India and Pakistan during the Partition of India in August 1947. East Pakistan was formed as a part of the newly created State of Pakistan.
The Bengali Language Movement started in February 1948, advocating for the recognition of Bengali as an official language in East Pakistan. This movement played a significant role in the cultural and linguistic identity of Bengalis.
The Awami League was established in 1949 to campaign for East Pakistan's autonomy from West Pakistan.
On 21 February, Bengali students gathered, defying Section 144. The police opened fire, leading to the death of four students and one other person, with many injured. This movement sparked the realization that Bengalis were a separate nation, paving the way for their independence.
In 1956, after years of conflict and civil unrest, the central government finally granted official status to the Bengali language, recognizing its importance and significance in East Pakistan.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the Awami League, presents a 6-point plan at a national conference in Lahore, demanding self-government and significant autonomy for East Pakistan within a weak central government.
The Agartala Conspiracy Case is filed against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, accusing him of conspiring for the secession of East Pakistan with Indian assistance. Despite government expectations, popular demonstrations lead to the dropping of the case.
In 1969, at a massive public rally in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was affectionately titled Bangabandhu, meaning friend of Bengal. He was a key figure in demanding self-autonomy for East Pakistan.
The Awami League in East Pakistan, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, sought independence from West Pakistan. Tensions rose as the political party won the election but faced opposition from the People's Party of Pakistan, leading to the beginning of the Bangladeshi Liberation War.
On 7 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered a passionate speech at the Racecourse Ground, urging Bengalis to resist Pakistani rule and fight for independence.
On 25 March 1971, the Pakistani military initiated a brutal crackdown in East Pakistan, leading to widespread atrocities and the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, following a nine-month-long war of independence.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistani occupation forces, urging the people to resist until victory is achieved.
Awami League leaders established the People's Republic of Bangladesh Government in exile in India, with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman as President and Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister.
On 21 November 1971, Bangladesh Muktu Bahini and the Indian forces formed an Allied Command to defeat the West Pakistani army, resulting in the victory declared on 16 December 1971.
The Indian army invaded both the western and eastern wings of Pakistan on December 3, 1971, leading to the surrender of Pakistani defenses on December 16 and ensuring Bangladesh's independence.
On 14 December 1971, the Pakistan Army and local collaborators abducted and murdered hundreds of Bengali intellectuals, leading to the observance of 14 December as Martyred Intellectuals Day.
On 16 December 1971, Bangladesh Muktu Bahini and the Indian forces formed an Allied Command and defeated the West Pakistani army, leading to the largest surrender of prisoners of war since World War II.
On 8 January 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, was released from captivity.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the Awami League, became the 2nd Prime Minister of Bangladesh on January 12, 1972, after the party won the 1970 election in Pakistan. He is considered the nation's independence hero and founding father.
Bangladesh's constitution of 1973 provided for a secular state, a parliamentary form of government, a bill of rights, and a strong commitment to local government.
In February 1974, Pakistan officially recognized the independent state of Bangladesh, acknowledging its sovereignty.
On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of Bangladesh, was assassinated by a group of junior army rebels, leading to political instability in the country.
Vice-President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad promulgated martial law and executed prominent confidantes of Sheikh Mujib, including Bangladesh's first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmad, on November 3, 1975.
Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman emerged as the most powerful figure in Bangladesh in 1976, shaping the country's future political landscape.
Lt Gen Ziaur Rahman, also known as Zia, took over the presidency from Justice Sayem on April 21, 1977. He later founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and initiated various economic and social reforms during his tenure.
In 1979, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a significant victory in the parliamentary elections, gaining a majority while the Awami League became the principal opposition party.
President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated on May 30, 1981, by troops loyal to Major General Abul Manzoor. The assassination followed several attempted coups against his government.
On March 24, 1982, Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad seized power in Bangladesh through a bloodless coup, leading to a period of military rule.
In December 1983, Hussein Mohammad Ershad assumed the office of President of Bangladesh.
In March 1985, President Ershad held a national referendum to seek public support for his leadership. Despite low turnout, Ershad won overwhelmingly, consolidating his position.
Ershad's government passed the seventh constitutional amendment bill in November 1986, lifting martial law and allowing opposition parties to take their elected seats in the National Assembly.
In July 1987, the government passed a controversial bill to include military representation on local administrative councils, sparking an opposition movement and leading to arrests under the Special Powers Act of 1974.
Fresh elections were scheduled for March 1988 in Bangladesh, despite opposition boycott. The ruling Jatiya Party won 251 of the 300 seats, leading to the passing of the controversial eighth amendment to the Constitution.
Amid violent protests and corruption allegations, Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad was forced to resign from power on December 6, 1990, in Bangladesh.
In parliamentary elections held in February 1991, the BNP emerged as the single largest block, and Khaleda Zia became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
A constitutional referendum was held in September 1991 in Bangladesh, transferring executive powers from the President to the Prime Minister and restoring the country to a Parliamentary democracy.
The book 'Ancient Bangladesh: A Study of the Archaeological Sources' by D. K. Chakrabarti was published in 1992 in Delhi by Oxford University Press. It focuses on the archaeological sources of ancient Bangladesh.
In March 1994, the opposition in Bangladesh boycotted Parliament indefinitely due to a controversy over a rigged parliamentary by-election. They demanded the resignation of Khaleda Zia's government and the supervision of a general election by a caretaker government.
On 12 June 1996, free and fair elections were successfully held in Bangladesh under the second caretaker government. The Awami League emerged as the largest party.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was formed in 1997 between the government of Bangladesh and tribal leaders. It granted a limited level of autonomy to the elected council of the three hill districts.
In 1998, Bangladesh experienced a disastrous monsoon that flooded two-thirds of the country's territory for two months, displacing over 30 million people.
In June 1999, opposition parties in Bangladesh began abstaining from attending Parliament and boycotted all elections due to the government's failure to ensure electoral fairness.
The 2000s decade began in January 2000 and ended in December 2009, marking a significant period of time in the 21st century.
In July 2000, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina completed her five-year term, becoming the first leader to do so since Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1974.
Following the September 11 attacks, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's government permitted the United States to utilize Bangladeshi airports and airspace for military operations in Afghanistan, showcasing Bangladesh's cooperation in global security efforts.
On 1 October 2001, a parliamentary general election was successfully held in Bangladesh under the supervision of a caretaker government led by Chief Advisor Latifur Rahman. The election resulted in a landslide victory for the BNP-led coalition.
On 16 December 2002, George Washington University's National Security Archive published declassified communications revealing that US officials used terms like selective genocide and genocide to describe the events during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The book 'Inside Bengal Politics 1936–1947: Unpublished Correspondence of Partition Leaders' was published in Dhaka in 2003. It contains unpublished correspondence of leaders during the partition of Bengal.
Khaleda Zia stepped down as Prime Minister of Bangladesh in late 2006, transferring power to a caretaker administration amidst political unrest between the BNP and the Awami League.
On 11 January 2007, President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency in Bangladesh amidst political turmoil. This led to significant changes in the government structure and administration.
The December 2008 general election in Bangladesh resulted in a landslide victory for the Awami League-led coalition, signaling a shift in the country's political landscape. The election marked a significant turning point in Bangladesh's democratic process.
In January 2009, Sheikh Hasina was re-elected as Prime Minister of Bangladesh after the Awami League's victory in the general elections held in late December 2008.
Within two months of assuming office, Sheikh Hasina's second government faced the BDR Mutiny, which provoked tensions with sections of the military. Hasina successfully tackled the threat from mutineers and enraged elements in the military.
The 2010s decade started in January 2010 and concluded in December 2019, bringing about various social, political, and technological changes globally.
In March 2010, a tribunal was established in Bangladesh to try war crimes cases from the 1971 war of independence. The tribunal aimed to bring justice to those involved in the atrocities during the conflict.
The population of Bangladesh more than doubled by the 2011 census, despite large-scale emigration to neighbouring Assam and Tripura in India and a smaller exodus over the Arakan border with Myanmar.
A huge Islamist mobilisation led by the Hefazat-e-Islam group took place in May 2013 in response to the March 2013 Shahbag protests.
The general elections held in January 2014 in Bangladesh faced criticism for concerns of corruption and government suppression of the opposition. The BNP refused to participate in the elections due to unmet demands for fair elections.
Bangladesh saw its worst terrorist attack in July 2016, where 20 people died after an upmarket restaurant was sieged by gunmen. The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant claimed responsibility for many attacks.
In 2016, an attack on a cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter resulted in the death of 20 hostages, with conflicting claims of responsibility between the Islamic State group and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen in Bangladesh.
In 2017, a large number of Rohingya Muslims fled military action in Myanmar's Rakhine state and sought refuge in Bangladesh, leading to a significant humanitarian crisis.
The 2018 General elections brought another landslide victory for the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, amidst claims of violence and vote rigging by the opposition.
Bangladesh is commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020.
The book 'A History of Bangladesh' by Willem van Schendel was published online by Cambridge University Press on June 17, 2021.
Bangladesh, once part of the state of Bengal in India, gained independence from Pakistan after being part of the British Raj. Modern Bangladesh is a relatively young South Asian country with a rich history of Hindu and Mughal rule.
The book 'A History of Bangladesh' was published on May 6, 2024.