2002 in Bangladesh

The year 2002 was the 31st year after the independence of Bangladesh, and the second year of the third term of the government of Khaleda Zia.

Incumbents

President:
* until 21 June: Badruddoza Chowdhury
* 21 June – 6 September: Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar
* starting 6 September: Iajuddin Ahmed
Prime Minister: Khaleda Zia
Chief Justice: Mahmudul Amin Choudhury, Mainur Reza Choudhury

Climate

Flood

In late summer 2002, heavy monsoon rains led to massive flooding in eastern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, killing over 500 people and leaving millions homeless. There were an estimated 3.5 million victims of flooding in 30 out of 64 districts. Continuous heavy rainfall and water from the Meghalay hills in India had caused the flash floods.

Economy

Note: For the year 2002, average official exchange rate for BDT was 57.89 per US$.

Events

1 January – The government of Bangladesh banned the sale of polyethylene bags in the capital, Dhaka, for environmental reasons.
5 February – The Government of Bangladesh introduces a maximum sentence of death for acid attacks.
3 May – A ferry named MV Salahuddin-2 sank in the Meghna River south of Dhaka, Bangladesh, leading to the deaths of more than 450 people.
8 June – Sabekun Nahar Sonny, a student of BUET, was killed in a crossfire between factions of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal.
23 July – Bangladesh Police raids Shamsunnahar Hall, the women's dorm, of University of Dhaka.
29 August – According to the annual survey by Transparency International, Bangladesh is amongst the most corrupt nations, along with Indonesia, and neighbours India and Pakistan.
16 October - An anti-crime operation named "Operation Clean Heart" carried out by Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Ansar members in Bangladesh started.
10 November - Model Tinni was murdered.
1 December – 30 people die in Gaibandha in a stampede when a mill owner opened the gates of his house to distribute food to the poor.
6 December - Coordinated bombing of four movie theaters caused in the deaths of 27 people and injured over 200 others in Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Awards and Recognitions

Ekushey Padak

Sufia Ahmed, flourishing culture and Language Movement
Gazi Mazharul Anwar, music
Abul Kalam Azad, education
Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Language Movement
Ahmed Sofa, literature
Monzur Hossain, Language Movement
Sharif Hossain, education
Serajur Rahman, journalism
Abdur Jabbar Khan, film
Sadek Khan, Language Movement and film
Kazi Golam Mahbub, Language Movement
Pratibha Mutsuddi, education
Muhammad Shahidullah, literature and Language Movement
Ramesh Shil, Gano Sangeet

Sports

Asian Games:

* Bangladesh participated in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea. Bangladesh national kabaddi team won silver medal in kabaddi.Commonwealth Games:
* Bangladesh participated in the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, England. Shooter Asif Hossain Khan won gold in 10 m Air rifle individual event.Domestic football:
* Mohammedan SC won 2002 Dhaka Premier Division League title while Abahani KC became runner-up.Cricket:
* The Pakistani national cricket team toured Bangladesh in January 2002 and played a two-match Test series against the Bangladeshi national cricket team. Pakistan won the Test series 2–0. In addition, the teams played a three-match series of Limited Overs Internationals which Pakistan won 3–0.
* In August, Bangladesh toured Sri Lanka and played 3 ODIs and 2 test matches. This was followed by 2002 ICC Champions Trophy in which Bangladesh played 2 ODIs against Australia and New Zealand. Bangladesh lost all these matches.
* In October, Bangladesh toured South Africa for another bi-lateral series of 3 ODIs and 2 test matches. Bangladesh could not win any of these matches either.
* Later in December, the West Indies team visited Bangladesh and played two Test matches and three limited overs internationals. They won both the Test matches and two of the One Day Internationals, while the remaining ODI was a no result.Chess:
* Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman earned his GM title.

Deaths

17 February – Ehtesham, film director
18 June – Nilima Ibrahim, academic, author
28 July – Syed Ali Ahsan, poet
13 October – Ila Mitra, peasant movement organizer