2020 in Bangladesh

2020 (MMXX) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2020th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 20th year of the 3rd millennium, the 20th year of the 21st century, and the 1st year of the 2020s decade.

← 2019 2018 2017 2020 in Bangladesh → 2021 2022 2023
Centuries:	20th 21st
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2020 List of years in Bangladesh

The year 2020 was the 49th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It is also the second year of the fourth term of the Government of Sheikh Hasina. This year the entire country celebrated the 100th birthday of its Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The period between 17 March 2020 to 17 March 2021 was announced as the ‘Mujib Borsho (মুজিববর্ষ)’ or the year of Mujib. However, like rest of the world Bangladesh was also severly impacted by COVID19 Pandemic.

Incumbents

Abdul Hamid

Sheikh Hasina

• President: Abdul Hamid
• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Chief Justice: Syed Mahmud Hossain
• Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad: Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

Events

January

• 27 January – Supporters of the political parties Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party clash during the Dhaka South City Corporation election campaign in the Gopibagh yesterday area. At least 15 people injured.[1]

February

• 9 February – Bangladesh wins the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup by defeating the defending champions India in the final.[2]
• 11 February – Fifteen Rohingya refugees died, and another 72 were rescued, when a trawler bound for Malaysia sank off of St. Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal, leading to police to file charges against 19 alleged brokers.[3]

March

• 8 March – The first three cases of COVID-19 are reported in the country beginning the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh.[4]
• 17 March – The 100th birth anniversary of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is celebrated throughout the country.[5]

April

• 20 April – The country's first Blockchain Olympiad Bangladesh is organised.[6]
• 27 April – Over 500 garment factories in Dhaka and Chittagong re-opened, after being shut down for a month to stop the spread of coronavirus.[7]

May

• 5 May – Eleven people, including cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed, were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion after posting criticisms of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
• 20 May - Cyclone Amphan hits Bangladesh's coastal areas. The cyclone killed dozens and destroyed many homes.[9]

June

• 29 June – At least 34 people die when MV Morning Bird launch collides with another vessel and sinks in the Buriganga River in capital Dhaka.[10]

August

• 10 August – The assassination of retired army officer Major (rtd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan by some disgraced members of the police force caused tensions between the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Police which was cooled off by assurance from the government that justice will prevail. OC Pradeep, Inspector Liakat, and SI Nanda Dulal the three policemen involved were all arrested by the elite RAB. The mastermind OC Pradeep had also been found linked to numerous corruption scandals and accumulation of illegal wealth through extortion.[11]

September

• 6 September – Twenty-four people died after a leak in a gas pipeline caused an explosion in a mosque in Narayanganj district. Several others were injured.[12]

October

• 20 October – The reactor of the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) was transferred to Bangladesh from Russia, initiating the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is expected to be in operation by 2023.[13]

December

• 8 December and 9 December – For two days traders clashed with the police when Dhaka South City Corporation began demolition of hundreds of unauthorized shops of a market in Gulistan's Fulbaria area. Traders demanded compensation.[14][15]

Independence Day Award

Total 9 persons and 1 organisation were awarded.[16]

Recipients	Area	Note
Golam Dastagir Gazi	independence and liberation war
Azizur Rahman	independence and liberation war
Commander Abdur Rauf	independence and liberation war	posthumous
Anwar Pasha	independence and liberation war	posthumous
Kalipada Das	culture
Ferdousi Mazumder	culture
Professor Dr Md Obaidul Kabir Chowdhury	medical science
AKMA Muqtadir	medical science
Bharateswari Homes	education

Ekushey Padak

Ekushey Padak was awarded to 20 people and 1 organisation.[17]

1. Aminul Islam Badsha, language movement (posthumous)
2. Begum Dalia Nausheen, music
3. Shankar Roy, music
4. Mita Haque, music
5. Golam Mostafa Khan, dance
6. SM Mohsin, acting
7. Farida Zaman, art
8. Haji Aktar Sardar, liberation war (posthumous)
9. AAM Mesbahul Haque, liberation war
10. Abdul Jabbar, liberation war (posthumous)
11. Zafar Wazed, journalism
12. Jahangir Alam Khan, research
13. Syed Mohammad Saifur Rahman, research
14. Bikiran Prasad Barua, education
15. Shamsul Alam, economics
16. Sufi Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, social welfare
17. Nuran Nabi, language and literature
18. Sikder Aminul Haq, language and literature (posthumous)
19. Nazmun Nesa Peyari, language and literature
20. Sayeba Akhter, medicine
21. Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, research

Deaths

January

• 2 January - Fazilatunnesa Bappy, lawyer and former member of Jatiya Sangsad (b.1970)
• 10 January - Mozammel Hossain, politician and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1940)
• 11 January -
  • Musharraf Karim, writer, journalist and former fellow of Bangla Academy. (b.1946)
  • Ahmed Ali, activist, freedom fighter, politician and lawyer. (b.1932)
• 14 January - Kazi Sekendar Ali Dalim, politician and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1945)
• 16 January - Jibon Rahman, film director. (b.1964)
• 18 January -
  • Abdul Mannan, politician aand former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1953)
  • Abbas Ullah Shikder, film producer, actor and politician. (b.1955)
• 21 January - Ismat Ara Sadique, politician, former minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1941)
• 31 January - Wazi Uddin Khan, freedom fighter, politician and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1936)

February

• 3 February - Durul Huda, politician, former mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and former member of Jatiya Sangsad.(b.1955)
• 16 February - Md. Rahamat Ali, politician, former state minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1945)

March

• 19 March - Ashraf Siddiqui, poet, folklorist, essayist and former director general of Bangla Academy. (b.1927)

April

• 12 April- Abdul Majed, convicted Army officer, executed.[18]
• 28 April - Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, civil engineer and National Professor. (b.1942)

May

• 6 May - Habibur Rahman Mollah, politician and former member of Jatiya Sansad. (b.1942)
• 8 May- Shamsuddin Ahmed (engineer), politician and former member of Jatiya Sansad.[19]
• 10 May - Anwarul Kabir Talukdar, former state minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1944)
• 14 May - Anisuzzaman, Bangladeshi activist, educationist and National Professor. (b.1937)
• 16 May- Azad Rahman, Bangladeshi composer.[20]
• 26 May - Nurul Islam Manzoor, former state minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad.
• 29 May- Abdullah al Mohsin Chowdhury, Bangladeshi civil servant and defence secretary.(b.1963)[21]
• 31 May- Abdul Monem, Bangladesh Industrialist and entrepreneur.[22]

June

• 13 June -
  • Mohammed Nasim, freedom fighter, presidium member of Awami League, former minister and former member of Jatiya Sansad. (b.1948)
  • Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, freedom fighter, former state minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad. (b.1945)
• 15 June - Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, politician and first mayor of Sylhet City Corporation. (b.1951)
• 16 June - Azad Rahman, composer and musician. (b.1944)
• 19 June - Ramchand Goala, cricketer and coach. (b.1940)
• 20 June - Kamal Lohani, journalist, activist and former director general of Shilpakala Academy. (b.1934)

July

• 1 July- Latifur Rahman, Bangladeshi business magnate and media mogul, founder of Transcom Group and former CEO of Transcom Group.(b.1945)[23]
• 3 July-
  • Faruk Quazi, Bangladeshi journalist and law reporter.(b.1949)[24]
  • Wahidul Haq, former Finance Minister of Bangladesh.[25]
• 6 July- Andrew Kishore, Bangladeshi musician and playback singer.(b.1955)[26]
• 9 July- Sahara Khatun, Awami League politician, former member of Jatiya Sangsad member, former minister(first women home minister of Bangladesh) and former presidium member of Awami League.(b.1943)[27]
• 13 July- Nurul Islam Babul, business magnate, industrialist, entrepreneur and former chairman of Jamuna Group.(b.1946)[28]
• 14 July- Shajahan Siraj, former minister and former member of Jatiya Sangsad.(b.1943)[29]
• 15 July- Sayed Haider, physician, author, Language Movement activist and designer of the first Shaheed Minar.(b.1925)
• 16 July-
  • Muhammad Mohaiminul Islam, former Chief of Naval Staff.(b.1941)[30]
  • Emajuddin Ahamed, political scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka.(b.1933)[31]
• 24 July- Delwar Hossain, Awami League politician, former member of Jatiya Sangsad.[32]
• 27 July-
  • Israfil Alam, Awami League politician, member of Jatiya Sangsad.[33]
  • AKM Amanul Islam Chowdhury, caretaker government adviser.[34]
• 29 July- Sheikh Md. Nurul Haque, Awami League politician, member of Jatiya Sangsad.[35]

August

• 3 August-
  • ATM Alamgir, Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and former member of Jatiya Sangsad.[36]
  • Mohammad Barkatullah, 76, Bangladeshi television producer, COVID-19.[37]
• 4 August- Abdul Mannan , Bangladeshi politician, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism (1991–1996).[38]
• 9 August- Alauddin Ali , Bangladeshi composer (Golapi Ekhon Traine, Sundori, Koshai), lung complications.[39]
• 15 August- Murtaja Baseer , Bangladeshi painter, COVID-19.[40]
• 22 August- Mrinal Haque, Bangladeshi sculptor.[41]
• 24 August- Chitta Ranjan Dutta, Bangladeshi military officer, Director General of the Bangladesh Rifles (1971–1974).[42]
• 18 August-
  • Sayeeda Khanam, was the first female professional photographer of Bangladesh.[43]
  • M. A. Jabbar, Jatiya Party politician and a Jatiya Sangsad (1986–1990).[44]
  • Azizur Rahman, Awami League politician, member of Jatiya Sangsad.[45]
• 27 August- Sunil Dhar, Bangladeshi classical musician, heart failure.[46]
• 28 August- Rahat Khan, Bangladeshi journalist and novelist.[47]

September

• 5 September- Abu Osman Chowdhury, was a Bangladeshi war hero and freedom fighter.[48]
• 9 September- KS Firoz, a Bangladeshi actor.[49]
• 14 September- Sadek Bachchu, Bangladeshi film actor.[50]
• 18 September- Shah Ahmad Shafi, Bangladeshi Islamic scholar, the chief of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh and the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board.[51]
• 27 September- Mahbubey Alam, Bangladeshi jurist, Attorney General.[52]

October

• 5 October- Monsur Ul Karim, Bangladeshi painter.[53]
• 11 October- Mirza Mazharul Islam, Bangladeshi surgeon and political activist.[54]
• 13 October-Rashid Haider, Bangladeshi author and novelist.[55]
• 24 October-Rafique Ul Huq, Bangladeshi lawyer, Attorney General (1990–1991).[56]

November

• 13 November-Mohammad Ali, Awami League politician, member of Jatiya Sangsad .[57]
• 11 November- Shegufta Bakht Chaudhuri, 86, Bangladeshi economist, Governor of Bangladesh Bank (1987–1992).[58]

References

1. https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/al-bnp-men-clash-during-campaign-1859554
2. https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/young-tigers-rule-the-world-1865719
3. Aziz, Abdul (February 12, 2020). "Trawler capsize: Another Rohingya rescued in St Martin's Island". Dhaka Tribune.
4. https://www.iedcr.gov.bd/
5. https://mujib100.gov.bd/
6. https://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/news/countrys-first-blockchain-olympiad-organised-1894939
7. Miglani, Sanjeev; Paul, Ruma (April 27, 2020). Gibbs, Edwina; Fenton, Susan (eds.). "Bangladesh garment factories reopen, while India looks to ease its lockdown". Reuters.
8. "Bangladesh cartoonist, writer charged for anti-government posts". Al Jazeera English. May 7, 2020. A Bangladeshi cartoonist and a writer are among 11 people to be charged for posting content on social media critical of the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Two of the 11 - cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed - were arrested on Wednesday by the Rapid Action Battalion paramilitary forces under the Digital Security Act (DSA), which critics say is a serious threat to freedom of expression in the nation of 168 million people.
9. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/cyclone-amphan-leaves-trail-destruction-bangladesh-india-200521035745307.html
10. "বুড়িগঙ্গায় ভেসে উঠল আরেক লাশ, মৃত বেড়ে ৩৪" [Another dead body found in Buriganga, death toll rises to 34] (in Bengali). Prothom Alo. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
11. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/08/10/sinha-murder-rab-appeals-for-more-remand-time
12. https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/narayanganj-mosque-blast-death-toll-rises-23-1956693
13. https://energybangla.com/reactor-vessel-reached-mongla-pm-to-inaugurate/
14. https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/photogallerydetail/1835401
15. https://catangelsnc.com/media-en/2020/12/09/clashes-during-gulistan-demolition-drive
16. "Govt. issues revised list of Independence Award 2020 recipients". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
17. "PM hands over Ekushey Padak to 20 eminent personalities, an organisation". The Daily Star. 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
18. "Bangladesh executes killer of founding president". BBC News. 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
19. "সাবেক সংসদ সদস্য প্রকৌশলী শামসুদ্দিন আহমেদের ইন্তেকাল". প্রিয়.কম. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
20. "Azad Rahaman passes away". New Age. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
21. "Bangladesh Defence Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury dies from Covid-19". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
22. "Industrialist Abdul Monem passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-05-31. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
23. "Latifur Rahman no more". The Daily Star. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
24. "Veteran journalist Faruk Quazi passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
25. "সাবেক অর্থমন্ত্রী ওয়াহিদুল হক আর নেই". Kalerkantho (in Bengali). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
26. "Singer Andrew Kishore passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
27. "Former home minister Sahara Khatun no more". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
28. "Covid-19: Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul passes away at 74". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
29. "Veteran politician Shahjahan Siraj passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
30. Correspondent, Senior; bdnews24.com. "Former Bangladesh Navy chief Mohaiminul dies from COVID-19". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
31. Correspondent, Staff; bdnews24.com. "Emajuddin Ahmed, a political scientist and ex-VC of Dhaka University, dies at 88". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
32. "সাবেক এমপি দেলোয়ারের মৃত্যুতে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর শোক". jagonews24.com. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
33. "AL MP Israfil Alam dies from Covid-19 infection". The Daily Star. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
34. "Ex-CG advisor Amanul dies of COVID-19". New Age. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
35. "Ex-AL MP Nurul Haq dies of COVID-19". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
36. "Freedom Fighter ATM Alamgir dies of Covid-19". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
37. "Noted TV producer Md Barkatullah passes away with Covid-19". The Daily Star. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
38. "বিএনপির সাবেক মন্ত্রী আব্দুল মান্নান আর নেই | বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন". Bangladesh Pratidin. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
39. "Music composer Alauddin Ali passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
40. "PM condoles death of Murtaja Baseer". PM condoles death of Murtaja Baseer | theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
41. "Eminent sculptor Mrinal Haque passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
42. "The passing of Bir Uttam Chitta Ranjan Dutta". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-25. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
43. "Sayeeda Khanam, first female photographer of the country, no more". The Daily Star. 2020-08-18. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
44. "দণ্ডিত যুদ্ধাপরাধী জাপা নেতা জব্বার মারা গেছেন". somoynews.tv. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
45. "Moulvibazar Zila Parishad chairman Azizur dies of COVID-19". New Age. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
46. "Ustad Sunil Kumar Dhar passes away". New Age. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
47. "Author, journalist Rahat Khan no more". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
48. "Another war hero leaves". The Daily Star. 2020-09-06. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
49. Correspondent, Entertainment. "Actor KS Firoz no more". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
50. "Actor Sadek Bachchu passes away". The Daily Star. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
51. "Hefajat leader Shafi dies". The Daily Star. 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
52. "Attorney General Mahbubey Alam loses battle to Covid-19 at 71". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
53. "Artist Monsur Ul Karim dies". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
54. "Language Movement veteran Dr Mirza Mazharul Islam passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
55. Correspondent, Staff; bdnews24.com. "Writer Rashid Haider dies at 80". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
56. "Barrister Rafique-ul Haque laid to rest". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
57. "Former lawmaker Mohammad Ali passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
58. "Former BB governor Shegufta Bakht Chaudhuri passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-11-14.