# Presidency of Hussain Muhammad Ershad

* This article is part of a series aboutHussain Muhammad Ershad
Ancestry
Personal life
Family name
Military career
Pakistan Army
Bangladesh Liberation War
Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)
9th President of Bangladesh
1982 Coup d'etat
Presidency
Council of Ministers
1990 mass uprising
Posts presidency political career
Jatiya Party (Ershad)
Leader of opposition
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Referendum and Elections
Electoral history
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Hussain Muhammad Ershad's tenure as the President of Bangladesh began on December 11, 1983, after he officially assumed the presidency following his military takeover in March 1982, ousting the civilian government of Abdus Sattar. Ershad took power during a period of political instability, economic stagnation, and widespread corruption, which had weakened Bangladesh's governance and public institutions. His administration prioritized economic liberalization, decentralization of governance through the introduction of the Upazila system, and infrastructural development to boost the nation’s economy.
Ershad also played a key role in strengthening Bangladesh’s position in regional diplomacy by spearheading the formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and engaging in international peace initiatives. His tenure, however, was marked by political repression, constitutional amendments favoring military rule, and the controversial declaration of Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh.

## Background
### Hussain Muhammad Ershad background

Ershad was born in 1930 at Dinhata in Cooch Behar Princely State, British India (now in Cooch Behar district, India) to Mokbul Hossain and Mazida Khatun, in a Bengali Muslim family of Nashya Shaikh origin. Mokbul was a lawyer who served as a minister of the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and was the son of Wakil Saadatullah. Ershad was the eldest of nine siblings including GM Quader, Mozammel Hossain Lalu and Merina Rahman. His parents migrated from Dinhata to East Bengal in 1948 after the Partition of India. Ershad studied in Carmichael College in Rangpur. He later graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1950.
Ershad was commissioned into the Pakistan Army in 1952 from officers training school in Kohat. He was an adjutant in the East Bengal Regimental Centre, the regimental training depot in Chittagong. He completed advanced courses from the Command and Staff College in Quetta in 1966. After serving with a brigade in Sialkot, he was given command of the 3rd East Bengal Regiment in 1969 and the 7th East Bengal Regiment in 1971.

### Coup d'état

On March 24, 1982, troops loyal to Lt. Gen. Ershad forced the president Abdus Sattar and the vice-president to resign. Ershad imposed martial law and declared himself the chief martial law administrator. He appointed the chiefs of the navy and the air force as deputy chief martial law administrators. He also suspended fundamental civil rights and the Constitution of Bangladesh, but did not abrogate it. Three days after the coup, a Supreme Court of Bangladesh justice Abul Fazal Muhammad Ahsanuddin Chowdhury was appointed president by Ershad, who also took the title of president of the council of ministers. Ershad declared that he had undertaken the coup to save the country from the corruption and inefficiency of the BNP-led government The Parliament of Bangladesh was dissolved and all political parties banned. Several hundred politicians were arrested on charges of corruption. In 1983, Ershad took over as president of Bangladesh.

### Military rule referendum and election

A referendum on military rule was held in Bangladesh on 21 March 1985. The referendum asked voters "Do you support the policies of President Ershad, and do you want him to continue to run this administration until a civilian government is formed through elections?"
The result saw 94% vote in favour, with a turnout of 72%. The opposition organised a general strike on the day of the referendum, and alleged that the results were fraudulent. Ershad planned to hold presidential elections in early 1986, but was faced with vigorous opposition from the Awami League-led eight-party alliance, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed seven-party alliance and the left-leaning five-party alliance, which all demanded the lifting of martial law and the holding of parliamentary elections prior to a presidential election. On 1 January 1986 Ershad formed Jatiya Party (Ershad) to represent his interests in elections and, conceding to opposition demands, parliamentary elections were held on 7 May 1986, which were won by Ershad's Jatiya Party. However the result was controversial as the elections were boycotted by the BNP and Awami League, which accused the Jatiya Party of election rigging. A British team of observers termed the elections a "tragedy for democracy" and a "cynically frustrated exercise". Ershad resigned as Chief of Army Staff on 30 August 1986 and, with the approval of the new parliament, a presidential election was scheduled for 15 October 1986. However, the election was boycotted by all major opposition party candidates, who demanded the lifting of martial law.
The presidential elections saw Ershad win in a landslide victory, reportedly receiving 84% of the vote. However, the result was viewed with scepticism, with reports of widespread irregularities. The New York Times reported that voter turnout was much lower than the government claimed and that very few people were able to vote in Dhaka due to an opposition-sponsored strike. The newspaper also reported that election officials were seen putting ballots in the boxes themselves and that "reporters saw voter sheets in which all the votes on one page were listed as having been cast, while almost none of the voters on another page had voted, suggesting that officials had marked up the lists themselves". Some people were seen with more than one purple stamp on their hands, suggesting that they had been able to vote more than once.
Despite the opposition boycott and reports of widespread irregularities, Ershad claimed victory stating "This is the day that we negotiated the last bridge toward a democratic government. Today my pledge to the nation stands fulfilled."

## Presidency

Ershad imitated his predecessor President Zia in many ways. Initially, he too installed a civilian president, Abul Fazal Muhammed Ahsanuddin Chowdhury (March 1982—December 1983). Suspending the constitution and political parties, Ershad took over as president on 11 December 1983 by replacing Chowdhury. Ersahd ordered the embassy of the Soviet Union to reduce their staff after the government allegedly saw embassy personnel with anti-government protestors. The police had detained two Soviet diplomats outside of Dhaka last year and Ershad had expressed fear of the Soviet Union.
Ershad supported the Land Reforms Ordinance of 1984, which granted important rights to tenants for the first time in the history of Bangladesh. A plan for the divestment of government industries promised to move the country away from socialism. In January 1985, he dissolved his council of ministers ahead of the general election. Bangladeshi lawyers went on work absentation to call for fair election and removal of Ershad. In March 1985, Ershad reimposed martial law on Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were placed under house arrest. He deployed the Army for the referendum seeking approval to stay in power till the next election. In July 1985, he increased the size of his cabinet to 21 ministers which included Kazi Zafar Ahmed and Sirakuul Hossain Khan.
Ershad played a key role during the founding summit of the countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985, which was held in Dhaka. Member states of South Asian States agreed to cooperate in politics and economics. Ershad brought together the leaders of India and Pakistan, Rajiv Gandhi and Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, respectively.
As president, Ershad approved amendments to the constitution of Bangladesh which declared Islam the state religion, abandoning state secularism. (The secular constitution was later restored) To improve rural administration, Ershad introduced the Upazila and Zila Parishad system. He held the 'first democratic elections for these village councils' in 1985.
Jatiyo A Party nominated Ershad in the Presidential Election of 1986, which was organised by his government. The only significant opposition candidates were Hafezzi Huzur and Syed Faruque Rahman, a retired colonel who had been accused in 15 August Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 3 November jail killing in 1975. Parliamentary elections on 7 May 1986, held under the martial law. Main contenders for the parliamentary seats were the Jatiya (People's) Party, formed on 1 January 1986 when the nationwide ban on political activity was lifted, and comprising the five parties which had together formed the pro-government National Front in July 1985 and the opposition leftist Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina. The largest political party of the second Parliament, BNP decided to boycott the poll. Election day was held in a climate of unrest and was marked by opposition charges of voting fraud and malpractices. On 10 May, polling was suspended in 109 constituencies. Following re-elections in 37 constituencies on 19 May, final results giving JP an absolute parliamentary majority were announced ten days later. Ershad's JP was declared the winner with 153 seats out of 300. There were 115 opposition and 32 independent members. However, the inaugural House session was boycotted by 119 opposition and independent MPs. The same day, a new cabinet was sworn in. Ershad was elected as president on 15 October 1986. The inauguration saw widespread violence and protests against the government.
However, Ershad faced increasing mass demonstrations on the streets mobilised by both the AL led by Sheikh Hasina and the BNP led by Khaleda Zia. The BNP boycotted the 1986 parliamentary election, but the AL which contested in the parliamentary election, later resigned from the parliament. In November 1986, Pope John Paul II visited Bangladesh. Ershad named Justice Minister A. K. M. Nurul Islam his vice-president in December. He replaced Minister of Home Affairs Mahmudal Hasan with M. A. Matin. He dismissed the Deputy Minister for Health and Family Planning and his sister-in-law, Mumta Wahab.
Bangladesh saw violent protests in 1987 calling for the resignation of Ershad. In July, eight people died in 54-hour general strike and hundreds were injured. The protest started against a new law that would allow the military to have role in local development which was opposed by the leader of the opposition Sheikh Hasina. In October, security forces detained more than 4300 opposition activists. In November, Ershad banned marches in Dhaka. On 28 November, he declared a state of emergency which was followed by arrest of opposition leaders including Mirza Golam Hafiz and Zillur Rahman. On 6 December 1987, Ershad dissolved the parliament in the midst of an opposition campaign calling for his and his government's resignation, and a nationwide state of emergency, which had been declared on 27 November. He stated that he wished to pave the way for fresh elections to receive the people's mandate on various national issues. The polling date was originally set for 28 February before being postponed.
In January 1988, the government banned all political rallies. 80 people died in violence related to local council elections in February. The University of Dhaka, which was the centre of opposition against Ershad, saw session jams and decline in academic activities due to the unrest. Polling day was marked by violence and a boycott by the three leading opposition groups - the Awami League (an eight-party alliance) headed by Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami and the right-wing BNP, all of which alleged electoral fraud. In this context, the ruling Jatiya Dal, or Nationalist Party, reportedly increased its parliamentary majority to 251 seats (including 18 unopposed), independents captured 25 seats and several minor parties shared the rest. On 27 March, a new Council of Ministers headed by Ershad was sworn in. The Prime Minister is Moudud Ahmed. In June 1988, Ershad led the parliament in making Islam the State Religion of Bangladesh. He dissolved the Election Reforms Commission after its chairman Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury criticized the government. Bangladesh saw nationwide floods which killed more than 121 people. More than 680 died in Monsoon floods.

### Mass uprising

In January 1990, the government banned protests outside of the parliament. Bangladesh sent two brigades to join the United States led coalition forces in the first Gulf War.
The effective end of the Cold War unleashed democratic forces and dried up international support for military rule in Bangladesh. After the defeat in 1986 general elections, Awami League led 8-party alliance took a streets once again that bolstered the movement launched by BNP led 7-party alliance and Leftist 5-party alliance in 1987.
The leaders of two major alliances of the time Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina decided to move for a unified movement against the Ershad regime after a meeting on 28 October 1987 at Mahakhali of the capital.
The movement reached a new peak in 1987 after the death of Nur Hossain who died during a police firing on a Jubo League rally. BNP, Awami League and all other parties started nationwide agitation in response to the police excesses. But eventually the movement in 1987–88 did not see much success due to the repressive measures from the government like the frequent house arrests of Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Beside the parties, the students and members of the civil society played an instrumental role in the upsurge. The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) has always contributed the most in the courses of history of Bangladesh. But during the lack of farsightedness and betrayal of some of the DUCSU leaders in 1980s, anti-Ershad movement lost its appeal among the students.
In February 1989, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangladesh Students Union and the leftist student organisations gave a joint panel under Chatra Shangram Parishad (Students Action Council) won the majority of the posts in the DUCSU election and Sultan Mansur Ahmed became the Vice-President of DUCSU. But this committee was proven as a failed one to challenge the regime and could not contribute much in the anti-Ershad movement.
In June 1990, Amanullah Aman-Khairul Kabir Khokan panel backed by Chatra Dal won the DUCSU election in full panel as well as almost all the hall unions of the university. Amanullah Aman became the Vice-President of the union with Khairul Kabir Khokan as the general secretary.
Routing all the organisation in the DUCSU election, Chatra Dal took the lead of the students' movement in the University of Dhaka campus.
DUCSU leaders and their followers mostly Chatra Dal men started holding rallies and sit in programs in the campus area in 1990 in protest to the Ershad regime. The huge activist pool of Chatra Dal started taking part in political programs declared by the three alliances from September 1990.
The Chatra Dal led DUCSU committee forged an alliance with all existing students group in the campus, Sarbadaliya Chatra Oikya Parishad (All-party Students Council) and staged a demonstration on 1 October 1990. According to the Military Secretary of General Ershad during 1990 Major General Manjur Rashid Khan,
   (…) ignoring the conflict and mistrust within the battling political parties, Sarbadaliya Chatra Oikya Parishad (All-party Students Council) became the driving force in the mass uprising.
The protests turned violent after the police firing on a rally of Chatra Dal on 10 October that claimed the life of Naziruddin Jehad, a Chatra Dal leader from Sirajganj who came to Dhaka to participate the nationwide strike called by the three alliances against Ershad.
On 4 November, the council of students rallied at the Gulistan area of the capital where they were met with police excesses. The students' alliance declared to siege the colony of minister's on 17 November 1990. The program turned into a violent one when hundreds of students from the university campus locked into a battle with police that left hundreds of students injured. The student body on 21 November held another procession and locked in a clash with police.
On 27 November, during a program of the students council, armed cadres of Jatiya Party opened fire on the students that ensued a gun battle with the armed cadres of Chatra Dal. While passing the Teacher-Students Centre intersection of the University of Dhaka, physician Shamsul Alam Khan Milon was shot by the Jatiya Party cadres and later died. This incident enraged the students and the council demanded the resignation of all ministers of the cabinet by 30 November and declared that if their demands are not met, the cabinet members would face dire consequences.
On the following day, the students came out from the campus with rally which was attacked by police and BDR personnel. On 28 November, stick-welding students from the University of Dhaka staged demonstration in surrounding areas of the campus. Students blocked the railway in Malibagh of the capital and forced the driver to stop the train and flee.
The series of student protests compelled the Ershad regime to think about a safe exit. On 6 December 1990, Hundreds of thousands of people rally in the streets of Dhaka, following which, Ershad submitted his resignation letter to the president and accepting the demands of the parties.

## Domestic and Foreign policy
### Domestic policy

Upon assuming power, Ershad suspended the constitution, declared martial law, and banned all political parties and trade unions, citing pervasive corruption, ineffective governance, and economic mismanagement as justifications for his actions. He also imposed the death penalty for corruption and political agitation.
One of Ershad's primary domestic initiatives was the privatization of the largely state-owned economy, with up to 70% of industry previously under public ownership. He encouraged private investment in heavy industries, light manufacturing, raw materials, and media, while inviting foreign companies to invest in Bangladeshi industries. To protect local manufacturing, stiff protectionist measures were implemented.
To improve rural and local administration, Ershad introduced the Upazila and Zila Parishad system, holding the first democratic elections for these village councils in 1985. This move aimed to decentralize governance and empower local authorities.
In 1988, his government passed a controversial constitutional amendment declaring Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh. This move was met with significant opposition and remains a topic of debate in the country's political discourse.
Ershad also formulated a pragmatic drug policy that benefited domestic manufacturers, established the "Pathakali Trust" to cater to the needs of street children, and initiated a comprehensive environmental action plan.

### Foreign policy

Ershad's foreign policy was characterized by activism, moderation, and a strong moral conviction, which earned Bangladesh respect on the international stage. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and played a pivotal role in the formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985, aiming to foster economic and political collaboration among South Asian nations.
In 1990, Ershad spearheaded a six-nation Asian-Muslim peace initiative, bringing together Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. This initiative demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait and the restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government, positioning Bangladesh as a proactive player in international diplomacy.
Throughout his tenure, Ershad sought to balance relationships with major global powers while maintaining Bangladesh's non-aligned stance. He aimed to reduce dependence on foreign aid, once stating that he did not want to ask for foreign aid "because people do not like to give to beggars."