History/Important dates

From 1947 to 1960: The Early Pakistan Period:
On the 14th August 1947 Pakistan was created. This can be regarded as the starting point of the birth of Bangladesh. It had two wings; East Pakistan and West Pakistan. The first one is now known as Bangladesh. From the beginning the political turmoil in Pakistan led to differences between the two wings. Firstly, it led to the problem of state language. As East Pakistan was consisted of 56 percent of the total population of Pakistan Bangla was to be considered as the state language. But the rulers opted for Urdu. It led to the Language Movement of 1952. Many of the people in the East Pakistan sacrificed their lives in the movement. The First Election in Pakistan was held in the year 1954. In the process of continuation the First Constitution was adopted in 1956. Later the elected parliament was dissolved with the proclamation of Marshal Law in Pakistan in 1957. This Marshal Law continued till the mid seventies.
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The Last Decade of Pakistan Rule (1961-1970):
One of the most important and noteworthy decade in the political history of Bangladesh is the seventies. The division between the two wings of Pakistan reached its peak. At the same time, East Pakistan (Present Bangladesh) was being deprived both economically and politically. In 1966 the then undisputed leader of East Pakistan Awami League chief Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared his famous Six Point Program in order to minimize the gaps between the two parts of Pakistan and to establish a self governance system in the East Pakistan. The discriminatory attitude of the West Pakistani ruler led to the mass upsurge in East Pakistan in the year 1969 Based on the six point program. Under the popular pressure the West Pakistani military ruler had to relinquish the post of President and held a general election in the year 1970. Awami League won the election with undisputed majority. In the mean time the costal areas of Bangladesh was hit by a cyclone on 12th November 1970 damaging properties and lives at a large scale.
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Birth of Bangladesh (1971-1980):
The most important event of this decade is the birth of independent Bangladesh. On 26th March 1971 the independence of Bangladesh was proclaimed. This is now observed as a national day in Bangladesh. On 10th April 1971 the interim government of Bangladesh was formed at Boiddanathtala (Later renamed as Mujibnagar) in Meherpur District. The government took oath on 17th April 1971. One of the notable events in 1971 is that India recognized Bangladesh on 6th December, 1971. Bangladesh won the liberation war on 16th December 1971 and the day is declared as the victory day of Bangladesh In the international arena Bangladesh became the member of the United Nations on 17th September 1974. Bangladesh political system plunged into a trouble with the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the 15th August 1975. Later Ziaur Rahman came to power.
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Bangladesh from 1981 to 1990:
The decade starts with the assassination of Ziaur Rahman. He is one of the valiant freedom fighters of Bangladesh and was the commander of Z-Force. He introduced multiparty political system. But he was also assassinated at the Chittagong Circuit House on 30th May 1981. After the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, H.M. Ersahd came to power with the proclamation of Marshal Law in 1982. He was in power for the longest time in the history of Bangladesh. He was ousted from power in 1990 in a mass upsurge. His rule came to end with the introduction of a new political concept of Caretaker Government in 1990.
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Bangladesh form 1991 to 2000:
The most important event of this decade is the practice of democracy. The election held under the caretaker government in 1991. A democratic government came to power in 1991 after a long time in Bangladesh. The second election under the caretaker government was held in 1996. Thus this practice ensured the proper practice of democracy in the country. Another important point is to be noted here. Bangladesh signed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India in 1996. The hill tracts of Bangladesh have always been a big political problem to deal with. In 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was signed. During this decade many of the foreign head of the States and Governments visited Bangladesh.
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Bangladesh at Present (From 2001 till 2006):
The time has drawn some major black spots in the history of Bangladesh politics. After the election many of the minority people were forced to leave their home especially the Hindus. Rise of militancy is another problem at the present time. In the label of Islamic militancy numerous bomb attacks has been carried out across the country by the Jamaite Mujahidin Bangladeh (JMB), an militant organization recently declared outlawed by the government. Some leading political leaders of Bangladesh also died in the bomb attacks. Even the suicidal bomb attack occurred on the judges of the courts. Though the situation has developed in the recent times but the harmonious democratic practice of the country has been seriously threatened by this type of activities carried out by the Islamic militant organizaions.
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Print Media:
The Daily Ittefaq is the oldest Bengali newspaper in the history of Bangladesh. It is being published since 14th November 1953. By mid 1960s the daily Ittefaq emerged as the virtual voice of the people of East Bengal striving for self-rule. Consequently, the government of Ayub Khan censored the publication of the paper from 17 June to 11 July 1966 and then again from 17 July 1966 to 9 February 1969. Tofazzal Hossain, the editor of the paper, was detained several times. In case of English dailies, the Bangladesh Observer (Previously known as the Pakistan Observer) is the oldest one. It is being published from 11th March 1949. For a very long time, these two newspapers led the industry.

In the mid nineties there had been two new newspapers which were competing in the market. One is the daily Inquilab which was first published on 4th June 1986. It is the first paper in the country having a religious flavor. At the same time, the daily Dinkal began to publish from 31st July 1987 which marked the beginning of politically biased newspaper publication in the country.

The decade 1991-2000 is the most notable years in the history of newspaper in Bangladesh. Numerous newspapers began to be published in the decade. Two leading Bengali dailies of the present time, the daily Prothom Alo and the Janakantha were published on 4th November 1998 and 1st September 1991 respectively. The second one introduced color pictures in the paper and a six column format for the first time. In case of English dailies, the most popular English daily at present the Daily Star begun publishing on 14th January 1991. So from all points of view this decade can be labeled as the most important decade in the history of newspapers in Bangladesh.

In addition to all these, the leading business daily of Bangladesh, the Financial Express was first published on 10th November 1993. This newspaper is the first one of its type in Bangladesh. Now there is another business daily named Business Today first published on 1st April 2004. The first tabloid newspaper of Bangladesh, the daily Manob Jamin was first published on 16th January 1998. It is the first of its type in Bangladesh.

Electronic Media:
For a very long period the only electronic media in Bangladesh was the Bangladesh Television (BTV). It is the state owned television channel. It started its journey on 25th December 1964. At the beginning the telecast was in black and white. BTV started colored telecast on 1st December 1980. Till 1997 it was the only channel in Bangladesh. Recently, in 2004 it started its satellite transmission as BTV World.

The decade from 1997 to 2006 can be regarded as the most fertile decade in the history of electronic media in Bangladesh. On 15th July 1997 ATN Bangla started telecast. In the course of time on 1st October 1999 another TV channel named Channel I started telecast. In the like manner, NTV started telecast on 3rd July 2003, RTV on 26th December 2005, Bangla Vision on 25th December 2005 and Channel 1 on 24th January 2006. One thing should be added in this regard. The cable television service was introduced in the country for the first time on 27th April 1992.
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Transportation:
In the post liberation war period the road transportation system of Bangladesh was nearly destroyed. But now the road transport system is well off. It is now easy to reach any corner of the country by road. The Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge which was inaugurated on 23rd June 1998 has linked the northern part of the country with the capital. It can be regarded as the most influential establishment in the history of Bangladesh. In addition to that the Meghna Gomti Bridge has linked the southern part of the country with the capital, Dhaka. All these changed the whole structure of the road transportation system of Bangladesh. From the year 2000 air conditioned bus services has been introduced in the roadway transport. At present, Bangladesh also has road links with neighboring country, India and it has now a good service to travel across the border. State owned BRTC and private transportation companies are playing vital roles in this regard.

The railway service is also good in Bangladesh. Dhaka has direct railway connection with the eastern and southern part of the country. Railway service is cheaper in carrying goods. It is also safer than the roadway. Recently, online ticketing service has been introduced. One of the notable developments in the railway sector is introducing air conditioned chair coach service at a lower price. The official name of railway service of Bangladesh is the Bangladesh Railway (BR). The railway service existed in Bangladesh since the British colonial rule. The first railway service started in the region in 1853. After the independence the inter city railway service was introduced in the year 1986.

Bangladesh is crisscrossed by thousands of rivers. As a result, the waterway plays an important role in the transportation system of Bangladesh. It is the easiest cheapest way for journey and carrying goods. But for the lack of proper knowledge the waterway journey in Bangladesh is very risky. But nonetheless, this is the finest way to get close to the nature of Bangladesh.

The air transportation system in Bangladesh suffers from many setbacks. But still it is trying to continue its service. The name of the state owned air service is the Bangladesh Airlines which started its journey on 4th January 1972. The first international flight was operated in 1973. Apart from this service first private domestic air service named Aero Bengal Airlines started its journey on 16th July 1995. In addition to this service two other private airlines companies named Air Parabat and GMG Airlines started air service from 1997 and 1998 respectively.
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Tele Communication:
The telecommunication system in Bangladesh is well off. The country was equipped with telephone facilities even before the independence. But at that time, telephone was treated as the symbol of status. On 4th January 1990 digital phone system was introduced for the first time in the country. At present, the whole country has a very strong telecommunication network. To make phones available to the common people the Card Phone system was introduced on 30th September 1992.

For a long time telecommunication was regulated and the service had only been provided by the Bangladesh Tar and Telephone Board (BTTB). But the scenario changed with the introduction of mobile phones. In Bangladesh mobile phone was first introduced on 8th August 1993. Then many other companies joined the business. Now there are four private (AKTel, Banglalink, CityCell, Grameen Phone)and one state (TeleTalk) owned mobile companies in the country.

One of the major sectors of telecommunication is the use of internet. Though the use of internet started lately in Bangladesh, but now the uses has reached a very high level. The internet service was introduced on 4th June 1996. It has broadened the path of communication using VOIP and VSAT technologies. Recently, Bangladesh joined the Submarine Cable which can be regarded as the gateway to the information super highway.
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