The year 2009 was the 38th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the first year of the second term of the government of Sheikh Hasina.
25 February – Mutiny staged by Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary force at BDR HQ, Pilkhana, Dhaka.[5] The rebelling BDR soldiers took over the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, killing the BDR Director-General Shakil Ahmed along with 56 other army officers and 17 civilians. They also fired on civilians, held many of their officers and their families hostage, vandalised property and looted valuables. By the second day, unrest had spread to 12 other towns and cities.[6][7] The mutiny ended as the mutineers surrendered their arms and released the hostages[8] after a series of discussions and negotiations with the government.[9]
13 March – A fire at Bashundhara City shopping mall kills 7 and injures 50 more.[10] The blaze started around 1:30 pm, after Friday prayers, on one of the top floors.[11] Most of the offices were empty, as Friday is the first day of the weekend in Bangladesh. A security guard died as he jumped off the top of the building to escape the fire. Seventeen others were injured. The chief security officer of the building was rescued from the roof top by a Bangladesh Air Force Bell-212 helicopter.[12]
27 November - A ferry named MV Coco-4 sunk near Bhola Island, killing 75 people, out of more than a thousand on board, with several dozen more reported missing.[15]
The Bangladesh cricket team started the year with on-going test series against Sri Lanka. They lost their first test match of the year.
After the test series, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe joined host Bangladesh in a Tri-Series. Bangladesh became runner-up while Sri Lanka became Champion. Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh was judged the Player of the Series.
The Bangladesh cricket teamtoured the West Indies during the 2009 international season, from 3 July 2009 to 2 August 2009. The tour consisted of a two-Test series, a three-ODI series, and one Twenty20 International. Due to industrial action between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players' Association, the West Indies fielded a weak team which was missing its entire First XI during the series.[21] Bangladesh easily accounted for the weakened West Indian team, winning the Test series 2–0 and the ODI series 3–0. In the Test series, Bangladesh recorded only its second and third Test wins ever, its first and second Test wins as the touring side, its first series win as the touring side, and its first Test series whitewash. In the ODI series, it was also Bangladesh's first series win as the touring side against a Test nation, and its first series whitewash against a Test nation. The West Indies won the Twenty20 match.