2010s in Bangladesh

none February 2026 2010 Bangladesh The 2010s was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on 1 January 2010 and ended on 31 December 2019. For Bangladesh, this decade was characterized by political stability from the continued rule of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. While the country made significant economic growth in this decade, rising threats from Islamist terrorism and the Rohingya refugee problem marred the progress. Politics and national life thumb|200px|2013 Shahbag protests demanding the death penalty for the war criminals of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War The decade began with the Awami League government in power. The infamous BDR Mutiny had just been subdued, and the trial of war crimes committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War had begun. In 2010, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh reaffirmed secularism as a fundamental principle in the constitution. The war crimes tribunal mobilised public opinion in favour of secularism, which was manifested in the March 2013 Shahbag protests. In response, a huge Islamist mobilisation also took place, led by the Hefazat-e-Islam group in May 2013. The intense bickering between the League and BNP, often dubbed the Battle of the Begums, continued. The Hasina government abolished the provision of a caretaker government in the constitution through the controversial Fifteenth Amendment.Van Schendel Willem 2009 A History of Bangladesh Cambridge University Press 358 978-0-521-86174-8 The move was seen by the BNP as an attempt to corrupt the election process in favour of the League. In 2013, the hard-line, right-wing, Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, was banned from registering and therefore contesting in elections by the High Court, citing their charter violates the constitution.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/8/1/bangladesh-court-declares-jamaat-illegal Bangladesh court declares Jamaat illegal News Al Jazeera 28 December 2018https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/ec-scraps-jamaats-registration-1653415 EC scraps Jamaat's registration 30 October 2018 The Daily Star en 28 December 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174842/https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/ec-scraps-jamaats-registration-1653415 28 December 2018 live Street violence between the League, BNP, and the Jamaat intensified in the run-up to the general election. In 2014, the general elections were boycotted by the BNP. The elections were criticized by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and the United Nations.Violent Bangladesh poll 'not credible' https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2014/1/7/violent-bangladesh-poll-not-credible Al Jazeera 7 January 2014 Sheikh Hasina was sworn in for a third tenure as prime minister. In 2015 and 2016, Bangladesh saw increasing assassinations targeting minorities and secularists, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Western and Asian expatriates, LGBT activists, Sufi Muslims, bloggers, publishers, and atheists. The country's worst terrorist attack saw the death of 20 people after an upmarket restaurant was sieged by gunmen in July 2016.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/01/gunmen-attack-restaurant-in-diplomatic-quarter-of-bangladeshi-ca/ 20 hostages killed in 'Isil' attack on Dhaka restaurant popular with foreigners The Daily Telegraph 2 July 2016 2 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160701220123/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/01/gunmen-attack-restaurant-in-diplomatic-quarter-of-bangladeshi-ca/ 1 July 2016 live The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks, although the Hasina government insists local terror outfits are more likely to be responsible. Since this attack, the government took stricter measures against extremists as the security forces led numerous raids on suspected militant hideouts. The measures led to a reduction in extremist attacks and fatalities.Sing S.B. Bangladesh: Exemplary Record – Analysis https://www.eurasiareview.com/21012020-bangladesh-exemplary-record-analysis/ EurasiaReview News&Analysis 21 January 2020 21 January 2020 thumb|200px|right| Sheikh Hasina during the Munich Security Conference 2019 In 2017 the country faced a fresh challenge from incoming Rohingya refugees. Starting in early August 2017, the Myanmar security forces began "clearance operations" against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine state — killing thousands of Rohingya, brutalizing thousands more, and driving hundreds of thousands out of the country into neighboring Bangladesh. In the first four weeks of the conflict, over 400,000 Rohingya refugees (approximately 40% of the remaining Rohingya in Myanmar) fled the country on foot or by boat (chiefly to Bangladesh), creating a major humanitarian crisis. The governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on 23 November 2017 regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State.http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/myanmar-bangladesh-sign-rohingya-deal/news-story/b0989c37a2348826393b42c7521522c5 Myanmar, Bangladesh 'sign Rohingya deal' news.com.au 24 November 2017 24 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171124161409/http://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/myanmar-bangladesh-sign-rohingya-deal/news-story/b0989c37a2348826393b42c7521522c5 dead However, till the end of the decade, over 740,000 refugees remained in Bangladesh creating pressure on the country's economy and infrastructure.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47412704 Rohingya crisis: Bangladesh will no longer take in Myanmar refugees - BBC News BBC News March 2019 The 2018 general election brought another landslide victory for the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina. While the opposition was already weak due to key leaders being in either jail or exile, the elections were further marred by violence and claims of vote rigging.Bangladesh election: Opposition demands new vote BBC News, 30 December 2018 However, this gave the Awami League government stability and the opportunity to complete key infrastructure projects for the country, including the Padma Bridge and the Dhaka Metro Rail. Administrative division right|thumb|Divisions of Bangladesh by the end of the 2010s With the introduction of Rangpur Division in 2010 and Mymensingh Division in 2015, by the end of the decade the country was divided into eight divisions shown in the table below: + Administrative Divisions of Bangladesh in the 2010s Division Capital Established Area (km2)http://www.dghs.gov.bd/images/docs/Publicaations/HB%202016%20_2nd_edition_13_01_17.pdf Health Bulletin 2016 Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) 13 11 September 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170613050056/http://dghs.gov.bd/images/docs/Publicaations/HB%202016%20_2nd_edition_13_01_17.pdf 13 June 2017 live 2016 Population Density # of Districts Barisal Division Barisal 1 January 1993 13,225 9,145,000 691 6 Chittagong Division Chittagong 1 January 1829 33,909 31,980,000 943 11 Dhaka Division Dhaka 1 January 1829 20,594 40,171,000 1,951 13 Khulna Division Khulna 1 October 1960 22,284 17,252,000 774 10 Mymensingh Division Mymensingh 14 September 2015 10,584 12,368,000 1,169 4 Rajshahi Division Rajshahi 1 January 1829 18,153 20,412,000 1,124 8 Rangpur Division Rangpur 25 January 2010 16,185 17,602,000 1,088 8 Sylhet Division Sylhet 1 August 1995 12,635 11,291,000 894 4 As shown in the table above, these divisions were further subdivided into 64 districts. Demographics thumb|Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in October 2017 Based on World Development Indicators published by the World Bank,https://data.worldbank.org/country/bangladesh World Development Indicators The World Bank 27 May 2019 the population of Bangladesh grew from 150 million at the beginning of the decade to 161 million by the end. This signifies an annual population growth rate of 0.7%. Population density increased from 1156 to 1240 per km2. The urban population was 30.5% of the total at the beginning, which ended up at 36.6%. Dhaka, the largest city, with a population of 14.7 million, accounted for 31.8% of the total urban population by 2019. The age dependency ratio (% of working-age population) changed from 58.2% to 49.0% by the end of the decade. The influx of Rohingya refugees had an impact on the demography of Bangladesh.Kudrat-E-Khuda (Babu), Michael William Scott (Reviewing editor) (2020) The impacts and challenges to host country Bangladesh due to sheltering the Rohingya refugees, Cogent Social Sciences, 6:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311886.2020.1770943 From 25 August to 25 October 2017, around 605,000 Rohingyas arrived in Cox's Bazar.Reported by the Cox's Bazar District Commissioner Office Besides, almost 203,431 Rohingya refugees were already living at Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazila of Cox's Bazar, and they had come there during the period from July 2005 to August 2017.Report on the Relief Distribution to Myanmar Nationals in Cox's Bazar, Memorandum No. 51.01.2200.000.24.016.17–555 The total number of Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh by the end of the decade was about 1,008,431.Center for Policy Dialogue, 2017 Climate The lowest temperature since Bangladesh's independence, at 37.4 °F °C was recorded in Saidpur on 10 January 2013.http://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/80-dead-temperature-hits-record-low-bangladesh 80 dead as temperature hits record low in Bangladesh ReliefWeb 10 January 2013 31 March 2013 Natural disasters thumb|right|An animation depicting Roanu nearing landfall over Bangladesh. In 2012, floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in late June, significantly affected ten districts in the country's northern and south-eastern parts, causing 131 deaths.https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-floods-and-landslides-emergency-appeal-n%C2%B0-mdrbd010-operation-update-n%C2%B02 Bangladesh: Floods and Landslides Emergency appeal n° MDRBD010 Operation update n°2 IFRC 15 November 2012 28 October 2019 In August–September 2014, continuous rainfall in north and north-eastern Bangladesh caused flash floods in low-lying and densely populated areas, affecting 2.8 million people.https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-2014-000117-bgd Bangladesh: Floods - Aug 2014 ReliefWeb 18 December 2019 On 21 May 2016, Cyclone Roanu made landfall near Chittagong, Bangladesh.Mohapatra M Tropical Storm Roanu Advisory No. 16 issued at 1500 UTC of 21 May 2016. http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/rsmc.pdf India Meteorological Department 21 May 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134017/http://rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/bulletin/rsmc.pdf 5 March 2016 30 people died when this cyclone hit the county,Saleemul Huq Cyclone Roanu hits Bangladesh: a story of loss and damage avoided https://www.iied.org/cyclone-roanu-hits-bangladesh-story-loss-damage-avoided International Institute for Environment and Development 27 May 2016 27 May 2016 and around 40,000 homesteads and business houses were damaged.20 killed, 500,000 evacuated as Cyclone Roanu hits Bangladesh http://timesofoman.com/article/84287/World/Asia/20-killed-500000-evacuated-as-Cyclone-Roanu-hits-Bangladesh Times of Oman 22 May 2016 August 2026 InternetArchiveBot In 2017, Cyclone Mora made landfall on 31 May. Strong winds and storm surge battered buildings and destroyed farmlands across Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and Rangamati. At least 20,000 houses were damaged in refugee camps for Rohingya Muslims, who were displaced by conflict in neighbouring Myanmar. Continued monsoon rain later in the year caused flooding that covered approximately one-third of Bangladesh, primarily in the northern, north-eastern, and central parts of the country.Steve George A third of Bangladesh under water as flood devastation widens http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/01/asia/bangladesh-south-asia-floods/index.html 4 September 2017 CNN 1 September 2017 Over six million have been affected, according to UNICEF, with estimates ranging as high as 8.5 million.http://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/unicef-bangladesh-humanitarian-situation-report-monsoon-floods-01-sept-2017 Bangladesh Humanitarian Situation Report (Monsoon Floods) UNICEF 1 September 2017 4 September 2017 Property losses included nearly 700,000 damaged or destroyed homes, 4680000 ha of farmland inundated, and thousands of miles of damaged roads. On 12 June, heavy monsoon rain triggered a series of landslides and floods in Rangamati, Chittagong, and Bandarban - three hilly districts of Bangladesh - and killed at least 152 people.14 June 2017 Landslide, floods kill 156 in Bangladesh, India; toll could rise https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-landslides-idUSKBN1950AI Reuters Rima Paul and Zarir Hussain Dhaka/Guwahati 14 June 2017 Awards and recognitions A.H.M. Noman Khan, a community leader promoting the cause of disabled people, was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2010.http://rmaward.asia/awardees/country/bangladesh/ Awardees who worked in Bangladesh Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation 14 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180701004536/http://rmaward.asia/awardees/country/bangladesh/ 1 July 2018 dead Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, was awarded Honorary Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal awarded by the United States Congress in 2010. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a lawyer promoting environmental protection, was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012.http://rmaward.asia/awardees/country/bangladesh/ Awardees who worked in Bangladesh Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation 4 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180701004536/http://rmaward.asia/awardees/country/bangladesh/ 1 July 2018 dead Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, wins the World Food Prize in 2015.Brac's Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins 2015 World Food prize for reducing poverty https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jul/02/brac-sir-fazle-hasan-abed-wins-2015-world-food-prize-reducing-poverty 17 October 2015 The Guardian 2 July 2015 Culture Literature The country's most popular author of the time, Humayun Ahmed, died in 2012. His unexpected and untimely death was mourned widely, and it created an "emotionally unifying experience" for the nation.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/citizen-journalists/citizen-journalists-reports/rashidul-bari/tears-for-humayun-ahmed-the-shakespeare-of-bangladesh/articleshow/15515838.cms Tears for Humayun Ahmed: The Shakespeare of Bangladesh Bari Rashidul 16 August 2012 The Times of India In 2016 the country further lost another leading critically acclaimed poet and author, Syed Shamsul Haque.http://www.thedailystar.net/city/syed-shamsul-haq-passes-away-1290556 Syed Shamsul Haq passes away The Daily Star 27 September 2016 27 September 2016 These two deaths created a vacuum in the literary field of Bangladesh. Some of the notable literary works from this decade include: Abdullah Abu Sayeed's Amar Boka Shoishob, Muntassir Mamoon's Dusshomoyer Dinguli, Humayun Ahmed's Badshah Namdar, Tahmima Anam's The Good Muslim, and Imdadul Haq Milan's Ekattor O Ekjon Maa.https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/interview/news/i-am-eternally-grateful-my-readers-imdadul-haq-milan-1697860 "I am eternally grateful to my readers" - Imdadul Haq Milan 2019-02-06 The Daily Star en 2019-02-06 Visual arts The use of natural light at Bait Ur Rouf Mosque|thumb|right Baitur Rauf Mosque, completed in 2012 and designed by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, was one of six winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016, along with the Friendship Centre in Gaibandha.https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/3/china-denmark-projects-among-architecture-award-wi/ China, Denmark projects among architecture award winners The Washington Times 3 October 2016 en-US 2019-12-30 Other prominent architects who made notable contributions in this decade include Jalal Ahmad, Salauddin Ahmed, Saif Ul Haque, Ehsan Khan, Mubasshar Hussein, Mustapha Khalid Palash, Enamul Karim Nirjhar, and Rafiq Azam. In this decade the nation mourned the death of master architect Muzharul Islam (d. 2012), who is considered the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh.15 July 2012 Mazharul Islam passes away https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-242207 The Daily Star 20 July 2012 See also Years in Bangladesh in the decade of 2010 Bangladesh References