1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1976th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 976th year of the 2nd millennium, the 76th year of the 20th century, and the 7th year of the 1970s decade.

The year 1976 was the 5th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the year when Gen Ziaur Rahman consolidated his power and proceeded to become the President.

• President: Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
• Chief Justice: Syed A. B. Mahmud Hossain

Note: For the year 1976 average official exchange rate for BDT was 15.40 per US$.

• 16 May - Farakka Long March was led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, demanded demolition of the Farakka Barrage constructed by India to divert flow of Ganges waters inside its territory, triggering the drying up of river Padma and desertification of Bangladesh.^[3]
• 21 July - Col. Abu Taher was tried by a military tribunal inside the Dhaka Central Jail and sentenced to death.^[4] The trial was later considered flawed.^[4][5]
• Five years after the secession of East Pakistan, Pakistan has Diplomatic Relations with Bangladesh.
• 19 November - General Zia took over the powers of Chief Martial Law Administrator, leaving President Sayem with only ceremonial function.^[6]

• Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, filmmaker
• Sadia Islam Mou, model and actor

• 13 March: Poet Jasim Uddin (b. 1903)
• 28 May: Zainul Abedin, painter (b. 1914)
• 21 July: Col. Abu Taher, Bir Uttom. (b. 1938)
• 29 August: Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet. (b. 1899)
• 17 November: Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, politician (b. 1880)
• 21 November: Ava Alam, classical singer (b. 1947)

• 1970s in Bangladesh
• List of Bangladeshi films of 1976
• Timeline of Bangladeshi history