A chronology of key events
1947 - British colonial rule over India ends. A largely Muslim state comprising East and West Pakistan is established
1949 - The Awami League is formed to for E Pakistan's autonomy from W Pakistan
1970 - The Awami League, under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, wins elections in E Pakistan. As the government in West Pakistan refuses to recognise the results, rioting follows. Cyclone hits E Pakistan claiming 500,000 people
1971 - Sheikh Mujib arrested and taken to West Pakistan. Awami League leaders proclaim the independence of the province of E Pakistan on March 26 - The new country is called Bangladesh. Nearly 10 million Bangladeshis flee to India as troops from W Pakistan are defeated with Indian assistance
1972 - On return, Sheikh Mujib becomes prime minister. He moots plan to nationalise key industries
1974 - While severe floods devastate crops, an estimated 28,000 deaths are reported. A national state of emergency is declared as political unrest grows
1975 - Sheikh Mujib becomes Bangladesh president. He is assassinated in a military coup in August. Martial law is imposed
{{/usCountry}}1975 - Sheikh Mujib becomes Bangladesh president. He is assassinated in a military coup in August. Martial law is imposed
{{/usCountry}}1977 - General Zia Rahman assumes the presidency. Islam is adopted in the Constitution
1979 - Martial law is lifted following Zia's Bangladesh National Party (BNP) wins in elections
1981 - Zia is assassinated during abortive military coup and succeeded by Abdus Sattar
1982 - General Ershad assumes power in Army coup. He suspends the Constitution and political parties
1983 - Ershad becomes president
1986 - Parliamentary and presidential elections. Ershad elected to a five-year term. He lifts martial law and reinstates the Constitution
1988 - Islam becomes state religion. Floods render tens of millions homeless
1990 - Ershad steps down following mass protests
1991 - Ershad convicted and jailed for corruption and illegal possession of weapons. Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of president Zia Rahman, becomes prime minister. Constitution is changed to render the position of president ceremonial. The prime minister now has primary executive power. Cyclonic tidal wave kills up to 138,000
1996 - Awami League wins elections. Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, becomes prime minister
1997 - Ershad is released from prison. The opposition BNP begins campaign of strikes against the government
1998 - Floods devastate two-thirds of the country. Fifteen former Army officers sentenced to death for involvement in assassination of President Mujib in 1975
December 2000 - Bangladesh expels Pakistani diplomat for comments on the 1971 war. The diplomat had put the number of dead at 26,000, whereas Bangladesh says nearly three million were killed
April 2001 - High Court confirms death sentences on 12 ex-Army officers for killing Mujib
July 2001 - Hasina steps down, hands power to caretaker authority, becoming the first prime minister in the country's history to complete a five-year term
October 2001 - Hasina loses at polls to Khaleda Zia's Nationalist Party and its three coalition partners
June 2002 - President Chowdhury resigns after ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) accuses him of taking an anti-party line
September 2002 - Iajuddin Ahmed sworn in as president
May 2004 - Parliament amends Constitution to reserve 45 seats for female MPs.
Bomb attack on Muslim shrine in north-eastern town of Sylhet kills two and injures UK high commissioner and 50 others.
July 2004 onwards - Worst flooding in six years leaves nearly 800 people dead, millions homeless or stranded, and an estimated 20m in need of food aid. September's floods in Dhaka are said to be the worst in decades.
August 2004 - Grenade attack on opposition Awami League rally in Dhaka kills 22 people. Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina survives the attack.
January 2005 - Prominent Awami League politician Shah AMS Kibria is killed in a grenade attack at a political rally. The party calls a general strike in protest.
February 2005 - More than 140 people are killed when a ferry capsizes near Dhaka.
May 2005 - Some 150 people are killed within a week in three ferry accidents.
August 2005 - Around 350 small bombs go off in towns and cities nationwide. Two people are killed and more than 100 are injured. A banned Islamic group claims responsibility.
November 2005 - Spate of bombings, blamed on Islamic militants, hits Chittagong and Gazipur. Twelve people are killed.
February 2006 - Opposition Awami League ends year-long parliamentary boycott.
October 2006 - Violent protests over government's choice of a caretaker administration. President Ahmed assumes caretaker role for period leading to elections due in January 2007.