Bangladesh becomes world’s first country to ban thin plastic bags
The South Asian nation took unprecedented action when it found that plastic bags played a key role in clogging drainage systems during disastrous flooding.
Bangladesh
Bangaldesh implements world’s first plastic bag ban
In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban lightweight plastic bags, a groundbreaking move inspired by devastating floods caused by clogged drains. The ban set a global precedent and sparked international attention to plastic pollution. While challenges with enforcement and alternatives have slowed progress, the policy has raised public awareness and inspired innovations in eco-friendly materials like jute, cassava, and cloth bags. Bangladesh’s pioneering step continues to influence environmental policy worldwide, and ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement and expand sustainable alternatives keep the country positioned as a trailblazer in the fight against plastic waste.
Bangladesh achieves independence from Pakistan
Modern Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971 after breaking away and achieving independence from Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The country’s borders corresponded with the major portion of the ancient and historic region of Bengal
The Bengali Renaissance thrives in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent
The Bengali Renaissance was a cultural, social, intellectual and artistic movement in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent during the period of the British Indian Empire, from the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century dominated by Bengalis.
Construction of Somapura Mahavihara in modern-day Bangaldesh is completed
Somapura Mahavihara in Bangladesh is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The Nanda Empire comes to power in modern-day India and Bangladesh
The Nanda dynasty ruled in northern part of the Indian subcontinent during the 4th century B.C.E., and possibly during the 5th century B.C.E. The Nandas overthrew the Shaishunaga dynasty in the Magadha region of eastern India, and expanded their empire to include a larger part of northern India.
The Vanga Kingdom comes to power in modern-day India and Bangladesh
Vanga was an ancient kingdom and geopolitical division on the Ganges delta in the Indian subcontinent. It was located in southern Bengal, with the core region including present-day southern West Bengal (India) and southwestern Bangladesh.