2008 (MMVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2008th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 8th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 9th year of the 2000s decade.

The year 2008 was the 37th year after the independence of Bangladesh. It was also the second year of the regime of the fourth caretaker Government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed.

• President: Iajuddin Ahmed
• Prime Minister: Fakhruddin Ahmed (acting)
• Chief Justice: Md. Ruhul Amin

Note: For the year 2008 average official exchange rate for BDT was 68.60 per US$.

• 3 February – The port city of Chittagong put on high alert to prevent a bird flu epidemic.^[3]
• 8 February – A plague of rats destroy crops in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[4]
• 13 February – The immigration advisory service in Britain warn that restrictions on immigration of Bangladeshis to the UK was leading to shortages in curry houses and affecting the industry.^[5]
• 28 February – Ferry accident near Dhaka claims 45 lives^[6]
• 14 April 14 - Train service between Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kolkata, India, resumes after 43 years with the inauguration of Maitreyi Express. (Financial Express)
• 16 April - Train-bus collision in Tangail district kills at least 17 people and injures 19 others. (IHT)
• 13 May - Another ferry named MV Nazimuddin sunk in the Ghorautura River, killing at least 40 people.^[7][8]
• 19 May- Dhaka high court approves citizenship for Biharis who were minors when Bangladesh won independence in 1971 or born after. (BBC)
• 11 June – Former PM Sheikh Hasina is released on parole.^[9]
• 20 June – The Election Commission (EC) announces that polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities will be held on 4 August 2009.^[10]
• 30 June – The caretaker government increases prices of petroleum products for the second time during its tenure.^[11]
• 21 July – At least 21 people are killed and nearly 40 injured when two buses collide on a Bangladesh highway.^[12]
• 30 July – The government sets up a truth commission that would allow corrupt businessmen and politicians to avoid going to jail if they confess and refund money obtained illegally.^[13]
• 3 September – Tareq Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia is freed on bail.^[14]
• 11 September – Khaleda Zia is freed from her yearlong detention.^[15]
• 3 November – The caretaker government schedules general elections on 18 December 2008.^[16]
• 24 November – The Electoral Commission reschedules the date for the general election from 18 to 29 December.^[17]
• 29 December – 2008 Bangladeshi general election takes place, Bangladesh Awami League secures a landslide victory. Sheikh Hasina becomes PM for the second time.^[18]

• 14 January – Selim Al Deen, playwright (b. 1949)
• 31 January – Abdus Suttar Khan, scientist (b. 1941)
• 4 February – Devdas Chakraborty, artist (b. 1933)
• 16 February – Monwar Hossain Nannu, footballer (b.1948)
• 17 February – S M Aslam Talukder (Manna), movie actor (b. 1964)
• 26 February – Bazlur Rahman, journalist (b. 1941)
• 28 March – Mohammad Asaduzzaman, educator (b. 1948)
• 6 April – Naziur Rahman Manzur, politician (b. 1948)
• 21 August – Abdullah al Mamun, playwright, actor, filmmaker (b. 1942)
• 2 September – Mohammad Moniruzzaman, author (b. 1936)
• 2 September – Zia Haider, author (b. 1936)

• 2000s in Bangladesh
• List of Bangladeshi films of 2008
• Timeline of Bangladeshi history