The year 1973 was the second year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the second year of the first post-independence government in Bangladesh.
Incumbents
President: Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (until 24 December), Mohammad Mohammadullah (starting 24 December) Prime Minister: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Chief Justice: Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
Demography + Demographic Indicators for Bangladesh in 1973 Population, total67,637,541 Population density (per km2)519.6 Population growth (annual %)1.5% Male to Female Ratio (every 100 Female)106.7 Urban population (% of total)8.6% Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people)46.1 Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people)19.1 Mortality rate, under 5 (per 1,000 live births)220 Life expectancy at birth, total (years)46.8 Fertility rate, total (births per woman)6.9
Climate
Economy + Key Economic Indicators for Bangladesh in 1973 National Income Current US$ Current BDT % of GDP GDP $8.1 billion BDT62.9 billion GDP growth (annual %) 3.3% GDP per capita $119.6 BDT930 Agriculture, value added $4.6 billion BDT35.6 billion 56.6% Industry, value added $1.0 billion BDT7.6 billion 12.1% Services, etc., value added $2.5 billion BDT19.7 billion 31.3% Note: For the year 1973 average official exchange rate for BDT was 7.85 per US$.
Events 7 March: First general election of Bangladesh is held, Bangladesh Awami League secures majority. 17 April: a tornado in the Manikganj region had killed at least 681 people. 17 July: The first amendment was made to the constitution. The amendment inserted an additional clause, Article 47(3), that states that any law regarding prosecution or punishment of war crimes cannot be declared void or unlawful on grounds of unconstitutionality. A new Article 47A was also added, which specifies that certain fundamental rights will be inapplicable in those cases. 28 August: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh signed a trilateral agreement, termed the Delhi Agreement, allowing the repatriation of prisoners of war and interned officials held in the three countries after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 6 September: Bangladesh joins Non-Aligned Movement(NAM). 22 September: The second amendment of the constitution was passed, allowing the suspension of some fundamental rights of citizens during a state of emergency. 12 November: Bangladesh joined FAO. 15 December: Gallantry awards of the war declared in Bangladesh Gazette. Establishment of the National Library of Bangladesh. The Shanti Bahini (Peace Force) guerrillas, mostly members of the Chakma tribe, took up arms after Bangladesh rejected their demands for autonomy over 5,500 sq.-mile region bordering India and Burma. They also demanded the removal of more than 300,000 settlers from their tribal homeland.
Awards and recognitions Seven freedom fighters killed in action during the Liberation War of 1971 were awarded Bir Sreshtho title on 15 December 1973: Engineroom Artificer Ruhul Amin Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Sepoy Mostafa Kamal Sepoy Hamidur Rahman Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh
Sports International football: On 27 July, Bangladesh national football team made their international debut, in a 2–2 draw against Thailand at the 1973 Merdeka Tournament held in Malaysia. Enayetur Rahman Khan scored the country's first ever international goal. On 13 August, Bangladesh national football team got their first ever victory by defeating Singapore 1–0, thanks to a goal from AKM Nowsheruzzaman. Domestic football: BIDC won the Dhaka First Division Football League title, while Abahani Krira Chakra, Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Wanderers came out joint runners-up. BRTC Sports Club won the Dhaka Second Division Football League title, earning promotion to the First Division. Brothers Union won the Dhaka Third Division Football League, earning promotion to the Second Division. In November, Dinamo Minsk from Soviet Union toured Dhaka, Jessore and Comilla, and played four exhibition matches between 5 and 14 November.
Births S M Jahangir Hossain, politician Saidus Salehin Khaled, musician Arifa Parvin Moushumi, actor Tipu Sultan, journalist Alfaz Ahmed, soccer player Shakil Khan, actor
Deaths 17 July - Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry, politician (b. 1919) 29 August - Syed Hedayetullah, academic and researcher (b. 1904) 22 December - Abdul Karim, soil scientist (b. 1922)
See also 1970s in Bangladesh List of Bangladeshi films of 1973 Timeline of Bangladeshi history
References