Chronology of Important events of 2008

January 2008

January 8- Four influential advisers of the military-backed Bangladesh's caretaker government resigned. The four advisors who have quit are influential Law Adviser, Mainal Hossain Chowdhury, Food Adviser Tapan Chowdhury, Health Adviser Major General (retd) ASM Matiur Rahman and Industry Adviser Geeteara Safiaya Choudhury.

January 13- Sheikh Hasina, Chief of Awami League, was formally charged of corruption by a Dhaka Court.

January 22- All four Dhaka University (DU) teachers, who were arrested after the student's unrest in August 2007, were released.

February 2008

February 4- Awami League demanded immediate announcement of the election schedule and lifting of the state of emergency.

February 14- Election Commission declared February 24 as the date for holding dialogue with political parties.

February 16- Security forces on arrested two top leaders of the banned Islamic militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami.

February 24. -General Moeen Ahmed, Chief of Bangladesh Army came to India on a weeklong visit.

February 26- Anti Corruption Commission filed fresh cases against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Jamaat Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.

April 2008

April 8-. Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles officials met in Delhi for a five-day long meeting. The major out come of the meeting was Bangladesh's declaration to take strong action against groups using its soil for anti-India activities.

April 10 ? The country saw violent protests by different Islamic organizations against the National Women Development Policy. The Policy envisages an appropriate political and socioeconomic structure to ensure the overall development of women. It was announced in March 8 and the Islamists were protesting against it since then.

April 24-Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's visited Bangladesh.

May 2008

May 7- Hasina formally charged for graft days after similar charges against Khaleda.

May 19- Matiur Rahman Nizami, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, was arrested on charges of corruption.

May 26- Awami League threatened the government of launching agitation demanding the release of Sheikh Hasina

June 2008

June 11 - Hasina released on parole and flies to the United States for medical treatment.

June 30-Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda, announced that the national parliamentary election would be held in the third week of December this year.

July 2008

July 3 - The anti-Corruption Commission brings new graft charges against Khaleda for embezzling money from an orphanage

July 15- Jamaat Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami was released.

July 28- Chief of Indian Army, General Deepak Kapoor, began his 5 daylong Bangladesh visit.

August 2008

August 4- Elections were held in 4 city corporations and nine municipalities.

August 5 - Hasina's Awami League supporters win almost all positions in local elections.

September 2008

September 9 - Khaleda bailed after 12 months detention.

September 15- Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed visited China. The major outcome of the visit was China's agreement to help Bangladesh to build a nuclear power plant.

September 16 - Hasina granted bail in one of several corruption cases, allowing her to return from the United States.

September 21- by Fakruddin Ahmed, Chief of the military backed caretaker government, announced that The National Parliament Elections (Jatiya Sangsad) would be held on December 18.

October 2008

October 7- General Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of Myanmar's ruling military junta, came to Bangladesh on a three-day visit.

October 21- General Moeen Uddin Ahmed began his six-day official visit to Pakistan.

November 2008

Novernber 1- Bangladesh Myanmar maritime dispute begun as Bangladesh naval ship "Nirvoy" detected four drilling vessels and a tug with the support of Myanmar doing exploration with a huge rig within the deep- waters of Bay of Bengal on which Bangladesh claimed sovereignty.

November 3 - Interim government relaxes emergency rules to allow party meetings and rallies ahead of parliamentary election.

November 6 - Hasina returns to Dhaka from the United States.

November 15- BNP led coalition gave 48 hours ultimatum for lifting emergency.

November 23- Chief Election Commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda announced fresh polls date both parliamentary.

December 2008

December 2- Senator John McCain visited Bangladesh on -3rd

December 11 - Hasina formally launches her election campaign.

December 12: Khaleda launches her campaign.

December 17 - Bangladesh lifts two-year-old state of emergency, but army is deployed across the country to insure a peaceful election process.

December 29 ? Ninth Parliamentary elections was held successfully.

December 30- Election result showed Awami League winning the elections