MODERN HISTORY

1947:
British colonisation ended in the Indian Subcontinent after almost two centuries.  India and Pakistan were created as new states.  Pakistan had two geographically separate wings, West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

1952:
Dr Victor Fenn was head of UNICEF in East Pakistan and opened the first country office in Dhaka - in his own house.  It moved to a government office later that year.


1952:
West Pakistan wanted Urdu as the only national language. It refused to recognise Bangla as a state language, even though it was the most common language in East Pakistan.  This led to the creation of a Bangla "Language Movement".   Thousands of students rallied for the Language Movement at Dhaka University on February 21. Several died after a riot ensued with police. February 21 is now marked as UNESCO's International Mother Language Day.

late 1960s:
Oral Rehydration Solution was developed in Bangladesh.  Through this discovery, the deaths of children younger than 5 from diarrhoea has decreased by 86 per cent in 30 years. (260,000 children younger than 5 died in 1971 compared to 36,000 in 2004)

1970:
Acyclone hit on November 12, killing up to 500,000 people. UNICEF promptly released 1000 tons of rice, 60,000 blankets and other supplies.

1971:
 The War of Liberation against Pakistan began on March 26. Bangladesh won its independence on December 16.  The war left a ravaged economy and a deep scar in the nation's psyche.


1970s:
UNICEF began its large-scale entry into safe water supply in Bangladesh.  This, along with the one in India, became one of the world's largest UNICEF-supported water supply programmes.

1974:
Bangladesh joined the United Nations on September 17.

1975 - 1991:
The political scenario was fraught with several course changing  coups d'état.  Martial Law and military rules were established several times.   Anti-dictatorial mass upheaval established a multi-party parliamentary democracy.   The constitution was amended to make provisions for a non-partisan and neutral caretaker government during 5-yearly elections.

1991- 2005:
Two main political parties, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and  Awami League alternately won the elections and formed governments.  Smaller parties also contested and have joined the major parties in forming coalition governments.