TIMELINE: Bangladesh's struggle for stability

(Reuters) - Bangladesh, facing the threat of a mutiny by paramilitary units outside the capital Dhaka on Thursday, has been struggling to achieve political stability in recent years.

Sheikh Hasina, winner of a December parliamentary election ending two years of rule by an army-backed interim government, was sworn in as prime minister early last month.

Political analysts and foreign nations providing aid to the impoverished country of more than 140 million say it needs to end political turmoil and violence to attract much needed investment.

Here is a timeline of major political developments since late 2006:

October 28, 2006 - Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia steps down at end of a five-year term. Twenty-five people die in political party clashes over appointment of a caretaker government.

October 29 - President Iajuddin Ahmed sworn in as head of a caretaker administration.

November 28 - Activists set fire to five election commission offices as the Awami League alliance, led by Khaleda's rival Sheikh Hasina, tries to force out election officials.

January 3, 2007 - Hasina announces boycott of January 22 election. Street protests bring Dhaka to a standstill.

January 11 - President Iajuddin declares state of emergency and steps down as caretaker head, handing role to Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former central bank governor. The January 22 election is canceled.

April 12 - Murder charges filed against Hasina and more than 50 others over deaths of 10 activists in October 28 street protests.

July 16 - Hasina jailed by the army-backed interim government to await trial on charge of extorting $1 million from two businessmen while in power.

September 3 - Khaleda and her businessman son arrested and detained by security forces on corruption charges.

May 7, 2008 - Hasina formally charged for graft days after similar charges against Khaleda. They deny all charges.

June 11 - Hasina released on parole and flies to the United States for medical treatment.

July 3 - The anti-Corruption Commission brings new graft charges against Khaleda for embezzling money from an orphanage.

August 5 - Hasina's Awami League supporters win almost all positions in local elections.

September 9 - Khaleda bailed after 12 months detention.

September 16 - Hasina granted bail in one of several corruption cases, allowing her to return from the United States.

November 3 - Interim government relaxes emergency rules to allow party meetings and rallies ahead of parliamentary election.

November 6 - Hasina returns to Dhaka from the United States.

December 11 - Hasina formally launches her election campaign. Khaleda launches her campaign the next day. In the ensuing weeks they accuse one another of corruption, vote-rigging and inciting violence, and each says she fears for her life.

December 17 - Bangladesh lifts two-year-old state of emergency, but army is deployed across the country to ensure a peaceful election.

December 29 - An alliance headed by Hasina wins 263 seats in the 300-seat parliament, which most independent observers describe as relatively free and fair. The group led by Khaleda wins 31 seats.

January 6, 2009 - Sheikh Hasina is sworn in as prime minister, ending two years of rule by army-backed interim government.

February 25 - Paramilitary forces mutiny in Dhaka over pay and other conditions. Nearly 50 people are killed.

(Writing by Gillian Murdoch and Carl Bagh; Additional writing by Jerry Norton)