diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
index 266480cdb6..fa60e9274d 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ set_global('page_params', {
 
 set_global('navigator', {});
 set_global('document', {
-    location: {
-    },
+    getElementById: function () { return $('#compose-textarea'); },
+    execCommand: function () { return false; },
+    location: {},
 });
 set_global('channel', {});
 set_global('templates', {});
@@ -256,6 +257,107 @@ people.add(bob);
     assert($("#compose-all-everyone").visible());
 }());
 
+(function test_markdown_shortcuts() {
+    blueslip.error = noop;
+    blueslip.log = noop;
+
+    var queryCommandEnabled = true;
+    var event = {
+        keyCode: 66,
+        target: {
+            id: 'compose-textarea',
+        },
+        stopPropagation: noop,
+        preventDefault: noop,
+    };
+    var input_text = "";
+    var range_start = 0;
+    var range_length = 0;
+    var compose_value = $("#compose_textarea").val();
+    var selected_word = "";
+
+    global.document.queryCommandEnabled = function () {
+        return queryCommandEnabled;
+    };
+    global.document.execCommand = function (cmd, bool, markdown) {
+        var compose_textarea = $("#compose-textarea");
+        var value = compose_textarea.val();
+        $("#compose-textarea").val(value.substring(0, compose_textarea.range().start)+
+            markdown+value.substring(compose_textarea.range().end, value.length));
+    };
+
+    $("#compose-textarea").range = function () {
+        return {
+            start: range_start,
+            end: range_start + range_length,
+            length: range_length,
+            range: noop,
+            text: $("#compose-textarea").val().substring(range_start, range_length+range_start),
+        };
+    };
+    $('#compose-textarea').caret = noop;
+
+    // Test bold: ctrl/cmd + b.
+    input_text = "Anything bold.";
+    $("#compose-textarea").val(input_text);
+    compose_value = $("#compose-textarea").val();
+    // Select "bold" word in compose box.
+    selected_word = "bold";
+    range_start = compose_value.search(selected_word);
+    range_length = selected_word.length;
+    event.keyCode = 66;
+    event.metaKey = false;
+    event.ctrlKey = true;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+    assert.equal("Anything **bold**.", $('#compose-textarea').val());
+    // Test if no text is selected.
+    // Change cursor to first position.
+    range_start = 0;
+    range_length = 0;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+    assert.equal("****Anything **bold**.", $('#compose-textarea').val());
+
+    // Test italic: ctrl/cmd + i.
+    input_text = "Anything italic";
+    $("#compose-textarea").val(input_text);
+    $("#compose-textarea").val(input_text);
+    compose_value = $("#compose-textarea").val();
+    // Select "italic" word in compose box.
+    selected_word = "italic";
+    range_start = compose_value.search(selected_word);
+    range_length = selected_word.length;
+    event.keyCode = undefined;
+    event.which = 73;
+    event.metaKey = true;
+    event.ctrlKey = false;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+    assert.equal("Anything *italic*", $('#compose-textarea').val());
+    // Test if no text is selected.
+    range_length = 0;
+    // Change cursor to first position.
+    range_start = 0;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+    assert.equal("**Anything *italic*", $('#compose-textarea').val());
+
+    // Test link insertion: ctrl/cmd + l.
+    input_text = "Any link.";
+    $("#compose-textarea").val(input_text);
+    compose_value = $("#compose-textarea").val();
+    // Select "link" word in compose box.
+    selected_word = "link";
+    range_start = compose_value.search(selected_word);
+    range_length = selected_word.length;
+    event.keyCode = 76;
+    event.which = undefined;
+    event.ctrlKey = true;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+    assert.equal("Any [link](url).", $('#compose-textarea').val());
+    // Test if exec command is not enabled in browser.
+    queryCommandEnabled = false;
+    compose.handle_keydown(event);
+
+}());
+
 (function test_send_message_success() {
     blueslip.error = noop;
     blueslip.log = noop;
diff --git a/static/js/compose.js b/static/js/compose.js
index 8b40474b60..40bc3d94a5 100644
--- a/static/js/compose.js
+++ b/static/js/compose.js
@@ -555,9 +555,66 @@ exports.validate = function () {
     return validate_stream_message();
 };
 
+exports.handle_keydown = function (event) {
+    var code = event.keyCode || event.which;
+    var textarea = $("#compose-textarea");
+    var range = textarea.range();
+    var bKey = 66;
+    var iKey = 73;
+    var lKey = 76;
+
+    if ((code === bKey || code === iKey || code === lKey) && (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey)) {
+        function add_markdown(markdown) {
+            var textarea = $("#compose-textarea");
+            var range = textarea.range();
+            if (!document.execCommand('insertText', false, markdown)) {
+                textarea.range(range.start, range.end).range(markdown);
+            }
+            event.preventDefault();
+        }
+
+        if (code === bKey) {
+            // ctrl + b: Convert selected text to bold text
+            add_markdown("**" + range.text + "**");
+            if (!range.length) {
+                textarea.caret(textarea.caret() - 2);
+            }
+        }
+        if (code === iKey) {
+            // ctrl + i: Convert selected text to italic text
+            add_markdown("*" + range.text + "*");
+            if (!range.length) {
+                textarea.caret(textarea.caret() - 1);
+            }
+        }
+        if (code === lKey) {
+            // ctrl + l: Insert a link to selected text
+            add_markdown("[" + range.text + "](url)");
+            var position = textarea.caret();
+            var txt = document.getElementById("compose-textarea");
+
+            // Include selected text in between [] parantheses and insert '(url)'
+            // where "url" should be automatically selected.
+            // Position of cursor depends on whether browser supports exec
+            // command or not. So set cursor position accrodingly.
+            if (document.queryCommandEnabled('insertText')) {
+                txt.selectionStart = position - 4;
+                txt.selectionEnd = position - 1;
+            } else {
+                txt.selectionStart = position + range.length + 3;
+                txt.selectionEnd = position + range.length + 6;
+            }
+        }
+
+        compose_ui.autosize_textarea();
+        return;
+    }
+};
+
 exports.initialize = function () {
     $('#stream,#subject,#private_message_recipient').on('keyup', update_fade);
     $('#stream,#subject,#private_message_recipient').on('change', update_fade);
+    $('#compose-textarea').on('keydown', exports.handle_keydown);
 
     $("#compose form").on("submit", function (e) {
        e.preventDefault();