The history of Bangladesh Games can be traced back to the British colonial period in the Indian Subcontinent.
[2] After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the sports officials in the country felt the need to organize a Bangladeshi version of such a national event.
[1][3] However, the inception of the event was distinct from those of India and Pakistan, as it was initiated before the formal establishment of the national Olympic committee of Bangladesh in 1979.
The first edition of the event featured athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
[5][6] This edition featured 31 disciplines having 346 events with almost ten thousand athletes, officials and staffs involved with it.