1973 in Bangladesh

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

Economy
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 26 July, Bangladesh national football team made their international debut, in a 2–2 draw against Thailand at the Merdeka Cup 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:
 * Team JIC, also known as BIDC, won the Dhaka League title, while Abahani KC, Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Wanderers came out joint Runners-up.

Births

 * Saidus Salehin Khaled (Sumon), 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, academician and researcher (b. 1904)
 * 22 December - Abdul Karim, soil scientist (b. 1922)