Assassination of Ziaur Rahman
Encyclopedia
Ziaur Rahman
, the president of Bangladesh
, was assassinated by a faction of officers of Bangladesh Army
, on May 30, 1981, in the south-eastern port city of Chittagong
. Zia went to Chittagong to arbitrate a clash between the local leaders of his party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party
. On the night of May 30, a group of officers, led by Major General
Abul Monjur
(the regional commander of the Chittagong
Cantonment, and Zia's comrade from the Bangladesh Liberation War
of 1971), commandeered Chittagong Circuit House, the government residence where Zia was staying. There they shot dead Zia and several others.
of Ziaur Rahman on 30 May 1981, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the Chief of Army Staff
, remained loyal to the government and ordered the army to suppress the coup attempt of Zia's associates led by Major General
Abul Manzoor. It is
widely speculated that Monjur was used as a scapegoat and Ershad himself was behind the liquidation of President Zia; although never proven in any court of law, even when Zia's widow was in power in 1991-1996 and again in 2001-2006. While Maj Gen
Abul Monjur
was alleged to have become totally disillusioned with Zia over military and personnel issues (including transfer, which equalled demotion, to Chittagong), many later accused Ershad of having covertly organised that coup, using Monjur. One key issue that is discussed is whether a coup could have been organised from Chittagong, without also securing the capital city of Dhaka (which Ershad controlled). It is speculated that Ershad gave this support only because of the clear, national revulsion against the assassination
of Zia.
Monjur's death - at first described as having been at the hands of an "enraged mob", but later shown in an autopsy report to have been via a gunshot to the back of the head - added to the mystery. The rest of the conspirators were tried in military court, and given sentences ranging from the death penalty to imprisonment.
Following Zia's death, Vice President
of Bangladesh Justice
Abdus Sattar became Acting President
. He was elected in a popular vote in December 1981 but was deposed in 24 March 1982 by a bloodless coup
by Ershad.
One of the accused of Zia's murder case, captain (Rtd.) Giasuddin Ahmed is now a Awami League member of Jatiya Sangshad from Gaffargaon Upazila
, Mymensingh District
.
Ziaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
, the president of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, was assassinated by a faction of officers of Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
, on May 30, 1981, in the south-eastern port city of Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
. Zia went to Chittagong to arbitrate a clash between the local leaders of his party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
. On the night of May 30, a group of officers, led by Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Abul Monjur
Abul Monjur
Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur was a career Bangladeshi army officer who was a war hero being a freedom fighter and Sector Commander of BDF Sector 8 during the Bangladesh Liberation War from Pakistan. He was awarded valor under fire Bir Uttam by the Bangladeshi Government for his bravery in...
(the regional commander of the Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
Cantonment, and Zia's comrade from the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
of 1971), commandeered Chittagong Circuit House, the government residence where Zia was staying. There they shot dead Zia and several others.
Aftermath
After the assassinationAssassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Ziaur Rahman on 30 May 1981, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the Chief of Army Staff
Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army
The Chief of the Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army is the professional head of the Bangladesh Army. By virtue of the eminence of the Bangladesh Army amongst the military forces of Bangladesh, he is also regarded as the senior-most defence official in the country...
, remained loyal to the government and ordered the army to suppress the coup attempt of Zia's associates led by Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Abul Manzoor. It is
widely speculated that Monjur was used as a scapegoat and Ershad himself was behind the liquidation of President Zia; although never proven in any court of law, even when Zia's widow was in power in 1991-1996 and again in 2001-2006. While Maj Gen
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Abul Monjur
Abul Monjur
Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur was a career Bangladeshi army officer who was a war hero being a freedom fighter and Sector Commander of BDF Sector 8 during the Bangladesh Liberation War from Pakistan. He was awarded valor under fire Bir Uttam by the Bangladeshi Government for his bravery in...
was alleged to have become totally disillusioned with Zia over military and personnel issues (including transfer, which equalled demotion, to Chittagong), many later accused Ershad of having covertly organised that coup, using Monjur. One key issue that is discussed is whether a coup could have been organised from Chittagong, without also securing the capital city of Dhaka (which Ershad controlled). It is speculated that Ershad gave this support only because of the clear, national revulsion against the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Zia.
Monjur's death - at first described as having been at the hands of an "enraged mob", but later shown in an autopsy report to have been via a gunshot to the back of the head - added to the mystery. The rest of the conspirators were tried in military court, and given sentences ranging from the death penalty to imprisonment.
Following Zia's death, Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Bangladesh Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
Abdus Sattar became Acting President
Acting president
An Acting President is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organization's or country's president, either when the real president is unavailable or when the post is vacant .-See also:*Acting *Acting President of Pakistan*Acting President of Malta*Acting President of...
. He was elected in a popular vote in December 1981 but was deposed in 24 March 1982 by a bloodless coup
Bloodless Coup
Bloodless Coup is the fifth studio album by Irish band Bell X1. It was released on 1 April 2011 in Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, on 4 April in the United Kingdom, and on 5 April in North America....
by Ershad.
One of the accused of Zia's murder case, captain (Rtd.) Giasuddin Ahmed is now a Awami League member of Jatiya Sangshad from Gaffargaon Upazila
Gaffargaon Upazila
Gaffargaon is an Upazila of Mymensingh District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.-Geography:Gaffargaon is located at . It has 73,130 units of house hold and total area 401.16 km².-Demographics:...
, Mymensingh District
Mymensingh District
Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division, Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by Meghalaya state of India and Garo Hills, on the south by Gazipur district, on the east by districts of Netrokona and Kishoreganj, and on the west by districts of Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail...
.
External links
- 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.