January

Jan 1: The sixth phase of repatriation of tribal refugees from India resumes, with a total of 941 people returning from Tripura to their homes in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Jan 5: ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya announces in Calcutta that the Mini World Cup cricket tournament involving nine Test playing nations will be held in Dhaka from October 26 to November 4.

Jan 7: President Justice Sha-habuddin Ahmed turns down the BNP request for a round-table conference on the CHT peace accord signed on December 2. 1997.

Jan 10: The three-nation Coca-Cola Independence Cup cricket tournament begins at the Dhaka National Stadium.

Jan 11: Air Parabat, the second private sector airline in the country, starts operations with two flights.

Jan 12: An agreement is signed in Manila to provide Bangladesh with 80 million US dollars concessional loan tram Asian Development Bank fur capital market development. Jan 14: The 7th Jatiya Sangsad goes into its eighth session, with President Justice Sha-habuddin Ahmed delivering the inaugural speech. BNP and Ja-maat-e-Islami remain absent. Jan 15: The Shantibahini announces that they will lay down arms at a ceremony in Kha-grachhari on February 9.

Jan 18: India clinch the Coca-Cola Independence Cup. beating Pakistan in a record-breaking thriller by three wickets at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Jan 19: An agreement is signed in Manila, sanctioning Bangladesh a US$110 million ADB loan for Jamuna Bridge Railway Link Project.

Jan 24: Bangladesh emerge champions in the plate competition of the MTN World Youth (under-19) Cricket Tournament beating West Indies by six wickets in the final in South Africa. Jan 28: A gunshot is fired at the Prime Minister's Office.

February

Feb 3: The US State Department releases its human rights report '97 in which it chides Bangladesh for its alleged violations of fundamental rights, but praises the country's judiciary for a high degree of independence.

Feb 4: Bangladesh strongly protests the holding of a press conference by the US embassy without prior permission and release of the Human Rights Report on Bangladesh by the US State Department.

Feb 5: The US embassy in Dhaka says that there is no exaggeration in the contents/of the Human Rights Report on Bangladesh and says it is based on a wide variety of sources. Feb 9: BNP MP Hasibur Rahmtp Swapan is appointed Deputy Minister for Industries . BNP expels Swapan. a party MP from Sirajganj. on charge of joining the government.

Feb 10: Some 739 Shantibahini guerrillas led by PCJSS chief Shantu Lanna lay down their arms in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasiha's presence on the first day of surrender of arms at Kh'agrachhari stadium marking the end of decades-old insurgency in the CHT region. Feb 17: Dr MohammadAlaud-din, a BNP lawmaker from the Rajshahi-5 constituency, is inducted into the council of Ministers. Subsequently. BNP expels Dr Alauddin from the party on disciplinary grounds.

Feb 27: Repatriation of the last batch of 199 refugees marks the end of the 12-year old Chakma problem.

March *

Mar 1: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court declares the detention order of deposed President H. M. Ershad under the Special Powers Act illegal. Mar 8: Main opposition BNP returns to parliament, ending a six-month absence since August 30.

Mar 10: A girl, aged about six, Is raped by an unidentified person inside the police control room of the first floor of the CMM's court building tills afternoon.

April

Apr 1: Drive to check pilferage . cut system-loss. Army deployed Apr 29: Thai court allows Ba-zlul Huda's extradition.in power plants.

Apr 3 : Technical fault in national grid, country without power for 40 minutes.

Apr 4: Seven party calls country-wide hartal on Apr 13 1500 vehicles stranded at Aricha. Apr 12: CHT bill placed in JS. Apr 15: Pandemonium in JP: BNP MPs rush towards Speaker damage TV cameras.

Apr 18: Govt-PCJS talk on CHT begins.

Apr 19: Breakthrough in talks between govt-PCJSS.

Apr 20: Five years 1997-2002

• import policy approved by the cabinet.

Apr 21: Norwester kills 12 in 4 districts.

Apr 24: First bankruptcy court opens in the country.

Apr 25: First SAARC information minister's conference in Dhaka.Apr 29: Thai court allows Ba-zlul Huda's extradition.

May

May 4: Rangamati Hill District Bill passed at Jatiya Sangsad May 5: BUET VC resigns: teachers association goes on strike. Khagrachari hill district bill passed. •

May 6: Bandarban Hill district bill passed.

May 7: CHT regional council bill passed.

May 11: Train collision kills 17 in Laksham.

May 13: 21 JS standing bodies formed. 14 recast.

May 18: Bangladesh win first GDI beating Kenya by six wickets.

May 21: 3 killed. 100 hurt, tele link snapped in cyclone.

BNP observes hunger strike at districts^

May 25: Sylhet Medical Collage closed sine die 2 killed as BCL-Shibir clash.

May 26: DSE adopts daily netting system

May 30: KS Nabi resigns as AG.

June

Jun 2: Writ challenging CHT regional council Act '98. Jun 4: Corruption case: charge sheet against Khaleda Zia sub mitted.

Jun 5: Severe congestion al Chittagong part again.

US-Bangladesh Business council formed in Washington.

Jun 9: BNP stages Long March protesting CHT accord.

Jun 12: New budget placed: thrust on industry-led growth Jun 14: BNP criticises new budget, says it lacks sense of social justice

Jun 15: FBCCI hails budget as it will boost industry and export Jun 18: 30 hurt in Narshingdi train accident

BNP calls day-long hartal today demanding scraping of CHI accord

Jun 19: BNP demands mid-tenr election

3 Bangladeshi killed in BSF firing Jun 23 : Grand opening of Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge Jun 25: BNP returns to JS.

Jun 26: CSE trading floor closed replacing computer one line trading system.

Jun 29: Air Parabat plane crash landed on a jute field near Savar Bazar.

Jun 30: JS passes finance bill '98.

July

Jul 7: Bangladesh and the United States sign a memorandum of understanding to implement a US Peace Crops Programme in the country. Jul 20: BNP retains Barisal-5 seat in the by-election.

Jul 21: Flood grips 29 districts. 64 lakh affected in floods.

Jul 27: Dhaka refuses to sign SOFA treaty with US.

August

Aug 2: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says there is no scope for India to deport any Bangladesh national as no Bangladeshi is living in that country'.

Aug 22: Flood situation takes a devastating turn with major rivers close io their highest ever level since 1954.Aug 27: Bangladesh seeks foreign assistance of 508.39 million US dollars and 1.38 million MT of food for emergency relief and post-flood rehabilitation programmes.

Aug 30: British Company Calm Energy's much expected drilling in Halda ends in frustration and cost over runs as no gas was found at the site.

September

Sept 1: Students of Jahangirna-gar University threaten fast unto death if the authorities fail to take stem action against those involved in rape of three - students.

Sept 3: Government requests donors to expedite shipment of foodgrains for flood rehabilitation programme.

Sept 12: The United Nations Food Agency announces a huge aid operation for the 20 million Bangladesh flood victims.

Sept 24: Most areas of the country plunges into darkness for 30 minutes due to power grid fail-

Sept 30: BNP leaders K. M. Obaidur Rahman and Nurul Islam Manjur and Jatiya Party leader Moazzem Hussain are arrested in connection with jail killing.

October

Oct 2: The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) urges international community to respond urgently to assist Bangladesh in its efforts to overcome the destruction caused by the recent floods. Oct 8: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declares that trial of all killings, including former president Ziaur Rahman, Major General Monjur and Colonel Taher will be held in the country, Oct 13: Bangladesh retains the ACC trophy with a thumping eight-wicket win over underdogs Malaysia in the final. Oct 15: Twenty-three persons including the then president Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed, are charge-sheeted by the CID in the jail killing case.

Oct 19: The government imposes new taxes and surcharges on a number of items and services with immediate effect to raise more funds for post-flood rehabilitation.

Oct 24: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opens the Wills International Cup cricket tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

November

Nov 1: South Africa lifts Wills International Cup. beating West Indies by four wickets in the fi-, nal.

Nov 5: The CID arrests five Bangladesh Television officials on charge of their involvement in the killing of four of their senior colleagues on November 7. 1975.

Nov 8: Twenty-three years, two months and three weeks after the fateful early hours of August 15. 1975, the historic judgement comes on the Bangabandhu murder case. The verdict: 15 guilty and four acquitted. The sentence: Death, by firing squad in public.

Bazlul Huda, is brought back from Thailand.

Nov 12: The Governments of Canada and Zimbabwe assure Bangladesh of extending "full co-operation" in the return of three convicts of Bangabandhu murder case now living in their countries.

Nov 15: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declares that her party. Awami League, will never call hartal, not even as the opposition.

Nov 16: A bill seeking to mobilise Tk. 200 crore by levying surcharge for funding postflood rehabilitation works is passed by the parliament. Nov 17: Four Bangladeshi Citizens are shot dead by Indian border guards in two separate incidents at the frontier villages in Naliatabari and Jhi-naigati.

Nov 25: The Jatiya Sangsad passes the Upazila Parishad Bill by incorporating a minor amendment moved by the BNP member about the election of women members.

December

Dec 9: India agrees to withdraw all non-trial barriers from Bangladeshi exportables.

Dec 10: Awami League candidate Air Vice Marshal (retd.) A K Kliandaker wins the Pabna -2 by-election to the Jatiya Sangsad.

Dec 12: Eleven persons of two rival outlawed parties are killed in the village of Jessore. Dec 22: The first-ever National Water Policy is announced aiming at ensuring optimal development and management of water resources.