Rise and fall of Ershad

In his illustrious career spanning over six decades, deposed military ruler turned chief of a major political party, Hussain Muhammad Ershad rose to the height of power by becoming the president, spent time in the darkness of prisons for years only to rebound and take the chair of opposition leader in parliament.  

Born on February 1, 1930 in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal (in India), Ershad graduated from Dhaka University, the premier university of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1950. HM Ershad was commissioned in the Pakistan army in 1952. After his repatriation from Pakistan to independent Bangladesh, Ershad was appointed Adjutant General of the Bangladesh Army in

1973. Ershad was promoted to the post of the Chief of Army Staff in December 1978 during the rule of the late president Ziaur Rahman. Amid political turmoil after the assassination of Zia by an army cabal, he took over the state power from the then president Abdus Sattar, on March 24, 1982, promulgating martial law.

Ershad also declared himself commander-in-chief of the armed forces, a constitutional post held by the elected president.

He made a very important change in the local government system by introducing the upazila system in the country in 1984.

Ershad formed ‘Jatiya Party’ in 1986 and was elected President for a term of five years the same year through the third parliamentary elections, triggering massive protests by other political parties. In the face of a strong Opposition movement, Ershad dissolved Parliament on December 7, 1987. The fourth parliamentary elections were held on March 3, 1988, and were boycotted by all major Opposition political parties.

Amid a fierce combined movement by the Opposition parties, he was finally forced to step down on December 6, 1990.

The JP chief was later accused of corruption as well as other offences, and kept confined to prison.

The deposed political leader contested the parliamentary elections from prison twice in the span of six years, and won on both occasions from five seats.

After six years of confinement, Ershad was granted bail, and was released from prison on January 9, 1997. He, however, lost his membership of the Jatiya Sangsad as he was convicted by the court.

Ershad was once again arrested in 2001, in a trial called the ‘Janata Tower Case’, on charges of using political authority to assign land and of having black money. Even though he was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment, the military ruler only served four months, after which he got out on bail.

He was given ‘Palli Bandhu’ (‘Friend of Villages’) title by his followers for his role in developing rural areas during his rule.

On May 15, 2011, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh announced that the martial law introduced by this military leader was illegal.

 

Rise and fall of Ershad

In his illustrious career spanning over six decades, deposed military ruler turned chief of a major political party, Hussain Muhammad Ershad rose to the height of power by becoming the president, spent time in the darkness of prisons for years only to rebound and take the chair of opposition leader in parliament. Born on February 1, 1930 in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal (in India), Ershad graduated from Dhaka University, the premier university of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1950. HM Ershad was commissioned in the Pakistan army in 1952. After his repatriation from Pakistan to independent Bangladesh, Ershad was appointed Adjutant General of the Bangladesh Army in 1973. Ershad was promoted to the post of the Chief of Army Staff in December 1978 during the rule of the late president Ziaur Rahman. Amid political turmoil after the assassination of Zia by an army cabal, he took over the state power from the then president Abdus Sattar, on March 24, 1982, promulgating martial law. Ershad also declared himself commander-in-chief of the armed forces, a constitutional post held by the elected president. He made a very important change in the local government system by introducing the upazila system in the country in 1984. Ershad formed Jatiya Party in 1986 and was elected President for a term of five years the same year through the third parliamentary elections, triggering massive protests by other political parties. In the face of a strong Opposition movement, Ershad dissolved Parliament on December 7, 1987. The fourth parliamentary elections were held on March 3, 1988, and were boycotted by all major Opposition political parties. Amid a fierce combined movement by the Opposition parties, he was finally forced to step down on December 6, 1990. The JP chief was later accused of corruption as well as other offences, and kept confined to prison. The deposed political leader contested the parliamentary elections from prison twice in the span of six years, and won on both occasions from five seats. After six years of confinement, Ershad was granted bail, and was released from prison on January 9, 1997. He, however, lost his membership of the Jatiya Sangsad as he was convicted by the court. Ershad was once again arrested in 2001, in a trial called the Janata Tower Case, on charges of using political authority to assign land and of having black money. Even though he was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment, the military ruler only served four months, after which he got out on bail. He was given Palli Bandhu (Friend of Villages) title by his followers for his role in developing rural areas during his rule. On May 15, 2011, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh announced that the martial law introduced by this military leader was illegal.