Military coups in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has faced several military coups since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.

1975 coups

15 August

Main article: Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

The coup of 15 August 1975 was organized by officers of Bangladesh Army. They were led by Major Syed Faruqe Rahman and Major Rashid. The coup resulted in the assassination of the country's president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his entire family (daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana escaped as they were in Germany) and several ministers and leaders of the Awami League.

3 November

The government set up by Major Faruque, Major Rashid and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was overthrown in another coup on 3 November 1975. This was organized by Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, Bir Uttom, a decorated freedom fighter. Mosharraf was seen by many as a supporter of the pre-August government. He put the army chief and fellow freedom fighter Major General Ziaur Rahman under house arrest but did not execute him. Some also claim that the personal friendship between the two officers prevented Brigadier Musharraf from carrying out Rahman's execution.

7 November

Brigadier Mosharraf's 3 day coup ended due to revolt by soldiers of Bangladesh Army. They freed Major General Ziaur Rahman from house arrest and killed the coup leader Brig. Khaled Mosharraf and his associates. Rumors about Musharraf's affiliation with India (a FEER cover at the time carried the headline "The Indian Coup?") aggravated army suspicion of this coup. Former Army Chief Major General Shafiullah alleged that many JSD (Jatiyothabadi Shomajthantrhik Dol: National Socialist Party) elements infiltrated the army in early 1975. On 6–7 November 1975 some of the JSD elements distributed leaflets and agitated soldiers against the officer class of the army. JSD tried to control the counter-coup organized by Abu Taher. Taher rescued Ziaur Rahman from captivity but was later executed in a secret trial led by Ziaur Rahman. The special tribunal was described as a "kangaroo trial" by journalist Lawrence Lifschultz and led to his expulsion from the country by the military junta of Ziaur. Lifschultz later documented the tumultuous coup and counter-coup of this period in "Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution."

Coups between 1977-1980

Ziaur Rahman survived as many as 21 coups during his five years until succumbing to the 22nd one. Most of those coups were led by the 1971 freedom-fighter officers who were irked by Ziaur's liaison with anti liberation pro Islamic quarters. 30 September 1977 a coup was held in Bogura Cantonment. 22 East Bengal Regiment occurred this coup. But It was failed. 2 October 1977 there was another coup held. It was led by the airmen of Bangladesh Air Force. 6 Air Force officers died in this coup. No one knows why this coup was begun. Witness says that in 2 October 5 member of "Red Army" of Japani soldier was trying to hijack an Aero-Plane of Japan Airline DC-8 including 156 passengers. But they failed to hijack. Then the coup was begun. For this reason 2500 soldiers killed in court martial. Officially 1183 Soldiers. 561 of them were Bangladesh Air Force airmen and rest of them were army soldiers. Army soldiers were killed for 30 September coup.

1981 coup

Main article: Assassination of Ziaur Rahman

Large processions follow the funeral of Zia

During his term of power, Zia was criticised for ruthless treatment of his political opposition. Although he enjoyed overall popularity and public confidence, Zia's rehabilitation of some of the most controversial men in Bangladesh aroused fierce opposition from the supporters of the Awami League and veterans of the Mukti Bahini. Amidst speculation and fears of unrest, Zia went on tour to Chittagong on May 29, 1981 to help resolve an intra-party political dispute in the regional BNP. Zia and his entourage stayed overnight at the Chittagong Circuit House, a rest house. In the early hours of the morning of May 30, he was assassinated by a group of army officers along with six bodyguards and two aides.

Zia's killing came as a central part of a botched military coup attempt led by Major General Abul Manzoor, who announced the killing and his take-over of the government on radio. Manzoor had earlier been a senior army commander and had been transferred to Chittagong in 1977. He was scheduled for a new transfer to a non-command position in Dhaka and was reportedly disappointed over his impending demotion.

After the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on 30 May 1981, the then Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad remained loyal to the government and ordered the army to suppress the coup attempt of Zia's associates led by Major General Abul Manzoor. Manzoor was surrendered and immediately he was taken in cantonment and 12 hour later he was killed .

Zia was buried at the Chandrima Uddan in the locality of Sher-e-Banglanagar in Dhaka. Large processions of supporters and BNP activists attended the funeral. Vice President Abdus Sattar immediately succeeded him as the acting president.

1982 coup

Main article: 1982 Bangladesh coup d'état

Presidential Oath Taking Ceremony after 1986 elections, the Chief Justice and Military Secretary (1984-1989) Brigadier ABM Elias is also seen

Lieutenant General Ershad maintained loyalty to the new president Abdus Sattar, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to victory in elections in 1982. Lt. Gen. Ershad even allotted two houses to Mrs. Khaleda Zia & her two sons, one of in Dhaka Cantonment where Ziaur Rahman's family still resides, and became a centre point of controversy later on.

However the BNP government was not doing well and pressure increased from high-ranking army commanders for the military to take over the reins of state. Lt. Gen. Ershad came to power in a bloodless coup on 24 March 1982 and proclaimed himself Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA), President Sattar was replaced. He took over as president on 11 December 1983 by replacing A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury.

To improve rural administration, Ershad introduced the Upazila and Zila Parishad system and held the 'first democratic elections for these village councils' in 1985. In an election held in 1986, Ershad was nominated by the Jatiya party, which had been created by him and his supporters. One of the major political parties BNP founded by his predecessor CMLA & later elected President Major General Ziaur Rahman led by his widow Khaleda Zia boycotted the elections; however the other major party Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina participated in Bangladeshi general election, 1986. The Jatiya Party led by HM Ershad won the elections winning majority in the Jatiya Sangshad. In 1987 Bangladesh’s Land Ministry launched the 'Land Reforms Action Program', an initiative to distribute khas – unoccupied state-owned land, to landless families. A noble element of the land reform was the establishment by the Ministry of Land.

Ershad's regime finally fell in December 1990; however he still managed some support as he was elected Member of Parliament three times and his Jatiya Party is the second largest party in Bangladesh's coalition government as elected in Bangladeshi general election, 2008.

See also

• Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim
• Abu Taher
• Hussain Muhammad Ershad
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• Ziaur Rahman

References

• Mascarenhas, Anthony. Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1986.
• Lifschultz, Lawrence. Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution. London: Zed Books, 1979.
• Ali, Tariq. Pakistan: military rule or people's power?". London: Cape, 1970.

External links

• 1975, 1982 or 2006?
• Generals In Labyrinth