The year 1974 was the third year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the third year of the first post-independence government in Bangladesh. The year saw a period of mass starvation beginning in March 1974 and ending in about December of the same year. The famine, allegedly causing death of a million people, is considered the worst in recent decades.
Incumbents
President: Mohammad Mohammadullah Prime Minister: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Chief Justice: Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
Demography + Demographic Indicators for Bangladesh in 1974 Population, total68,742,222 Population density (per km2)528.1 Population growth (annual %)1.6% Male to Female Ratio (every 100 Female)106.6 Urban population (% of total)9.0% Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people)45.7 Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people)18.7 Mortality rate, under 5 (per 1,000 live births)219 Life expectancy at birth, total (years)47.4 Fertility rate, total (births per woman)6.9
Climate
Economy + Key Economic Indicators for Bangladesh in 1974 National Income Current US$ Current BDT % of GDP GDP $12.5 billion BDT99.7 billion GDP growth (annual %) 9.6% GDP per capita $182.0 BDT1,450 Agriculture, value added $7.1 billion BDT56.5 billion 56.6% Industry, value added $1.7 billion BDT13.3 billion 13.4% Services, etc., value added $3.8 billion BDT29.9 billion 30.0% Note: For the year 1974 average official exchange rate for BDT was 8.23 per US$.
Events
22 February – Pakistan recognizes Bangladesh. 17 March – Members of Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini fired upon demonstrators from the Jatiyo Samajtantarik Dal, who were blockading the residence of the home minister, Mansur Ali, located in the Ramna area of Dhaka. The incident reportedly claimed at least fifty lives.Ahmad, Mahiuddin, জাসদের উত্থান ও পতনঃ অস্থির সময়ের রাজনীতি, First published 2015, p. 111, Prothoma Prakashani, Dhaka. 9 April – A tripartite agreement is signed among Bangladesh, India and Pakistan regarding post-war humanitarian issues. 16 May – A land boundary agreement was signed between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which provided for the exchange of enclaves and the surrender of adverse possessions. 17 September – Bangladesh joins the United Nations. 25 September – Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addresses the UN General Assembly in Bengali. 28 November – Third Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh was passed bringing changes in Article 2 of the constitution. An agreement was made between Bangladesh and India in respect of exchange of certain enclaves and fixation of boundary lines between the countries. 28 December – In the face of growing unrest, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declares a state of emergency.
Sports Domestic football: Abahani Krira Chakra won the Dhaka First Division Football League title, while Dilkusha SC came out runners-up. Brothers Union won the Dhaka Second Division Football League title, earning promotion to the First Division. Shantinagar Club won the Dhaka Third Division Football League, earning promotion to the Second Division. Rahmatganj MFS participated in the Bordoloi Trophy. Abahani Krira Chakra became the first club after the independence of Bangladesh to participate in the IFA Shield.
Births Ziaur Rahman, chess player Reefat Bin-Sattar, chess player Chanchal Chowdhury, actor Rajeeb Samdani, industrialist Tanzir Tuhin, musician Bobby Hajjaj, politician Bimal Tarafdar, sprinter
Deaths 11 February – Syed Mujtaba Ali, writer (b. 1904) 13 May – Khuda Buksh, humanitarian (b. 1912) 12 June – M. A. Hannan, politician (b. 1930) 5 October – Abul Hashim, politician (b. 1905) 2 November – Mohammad Barkatullah, writer (b. 1898) 5 November – Barada Bhushan Chakraborty, revolutionary peasant leader (b. 1901)
See also 1970s in Bangladesh List of Bangladeshi films of 1974 Timeline of Bangladeshi history
References