Military coups in Bangladesh
Encyclopedia
Bangladesh
has faced several military coups since its independence
from Pakistan
in 1971.
. 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.
was overthrown in another coup on 3 November 1975. This was organized by General 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 General Ziaur Rahman under house arrest but did not execute him. Some also claim that the personal friendship between the two generals prevented General Musharraf from carrying out Rahman's execution.
. Colonel 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 General Ziaur. Lifschultz later documented the tumultuous coup and counter-coup of this period in "Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution."
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.
Ershad maintained loyalty to the new president Abdus Sattar, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) to victory in elections in 1982. 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. 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.
Bir Bikram, a decorated freedom fighter who was appointed army chief by the previous Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
, refused to execute the President's order to sack some of Nasim's favourite army commanders. In the days following the sacking there was considerable military build up in and around Dhaka as troops loyal to the President led by senior commanders like Major General Matin, Major General Imamuzzaman (all renowned freedom fighters) prepared to defend the capital Dhaka
from those loyal to the General who were advancing towards Dhaka from districts. However, the situation was politically defused at the initiative of the Caretaker Government
led by Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman. General Nasim was arrested and General Mahbubur Rahman
, a non-freedom fighter army commander, was appointed the new army chief. General Nasim's associates General Ibrahim and few others were sacked and tried in a military court. Later in the year after the election, the new center-left government led by the Awami League overturned Nasim's dismissal and offered him a regular retirement instead, sent General Rahman on mandatory retirement, and appointed General Mustafizur Rahman, a freedom fighter who was at 7 days to end his leave prior retirement (LPR), as the new army chief. General Mustafiz is related (Uncle) to Awami League President Shiekh Hasina.
was the key force behind the declaration of emergency in the country on 11 January 2007 widely known as 1/11 phenomenon or coup while staying behind. He has been accused of forcing then president to resign from being chief of caretaker government of Bangladesh. Although never publicly admitted but he was praised for not declaring martial law. He and his chosen government has been accused domestically and globally to de-politicize the country. Hundreds of political figures including two ex-prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers and local government heads have been imprisoned by the regime accusing them of corruption. He initiated Minus 2 formula but failed.
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...
has faced several military coups since its independence
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....
from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1971.
15 August
The coup of 15 August 1975 was organized by officers of Bangladesh ArmyBangladesh 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...
. 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
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
, his entire family (daughters Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
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 AhmadKhondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Khondaker Moshtaq Ahmad was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the President of Bangladesh from 15 August to 6 November 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh...
was overthrown in another coup on 3 November 1975. This was organized by General Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf
Khaled Mosharraf was a Bangladeshi military officer who was a the Sector Commander of BDF Sector 2 and K-Force Brigade Commander during the Bangladesh War of Liberation. He was awarded Bir Uttam for his gallantry actions during the war...
, Bir Uttom
Bir Uttom
Bir Uttom is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho.Since independence of Bangladesh in 1971, 69 people have been awarded as 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 General Ziaur Rahman under house arrest but did not execute him. Some also claim that the personal friendship between the two generals prevented General Musharraf from carrying out Rahman's execution.
7 November
General Mosharraf's 3 day coup ended due to revolt by soldiers of Bangladesh Army. They freed General Ziaur Rahman from house arrest and killed the coup leader Gen 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 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 former army Colonel, and freedom war veteran, Abu TaherAbu Taher
Lieutenant Colonel Abu Taher a communist and a left-leaning radical activist of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, responsible for the Soldiers Uprising and the radical breakout that occurred in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh on Nov 7th 1975...
. Colonel 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 General Ziaur. Lifschultz later documented the tumultuous coup and counter-coup of this period in "Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution."
Coups between 1977-1980
General 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 soldier of Bangladesh Air Force. 6 Air Force officer died in this coup. No one knows why this coup was began. 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 began. For this reason 2500 soldier killed in court martial. Officially 1183 Soldiers. 561 of them were Bangladesh Air Force Soldiers and Rest of them were Army soldier. Army soldiers were killed for 30 September coup.1981 coup
Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...
. 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
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, 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
Assassination of Ziaur Rahman
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 30 May 1981, the then 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...
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain 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
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. Manzoor was surrendered and immediately he was taken in cantonment and 12 hour later he was killed .
Zia was buried at the Chandrima Uddan
Chandrima Uddan
Chandrima Uddan is a park situated in the road beside the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The name literally means "Moonlight Park" in Bengali....
in the locality of Sher-e-Banglanagar
Sher-e-Banglanagar
Sher-e-Bangla Nagor is one of the thanas of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. It is located near Agargaon and it is home to the National Parliament. The area has been named after A. K. Fazlul Huq, a renowned statesman and one of the most prominent political figures of Bangladesh who was...
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
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...
(BNP) to victory in elections in 1982. Ershad even allotted two houses to Mrs. Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia
Begum Khaleda Zia is the former First Lady of Bangladesh , and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history and second in the Muslim world to head a democratic government as prime minister. She served again from 2001 until...
& her two sons, one of in Dhaka Cantonment where Ziaur Rahman
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...
'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. 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
A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury
Justice AFM Ahsanuddin Chowdhury was the ninth President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.He was born on 1st July 1915.-Background:Chowdhury had graduated and obtained his BL Degree from Dhaka University...
.
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
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...
led by his widow Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia
Begum Khaleda Zia is the former First Lady of Bangladesh , and then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history and second in the Muslim world to head a democratic government as prime minister. She served again from 2001 until...
boycotted the elections; however the other major party Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
participated in Bangladeshi general election, 1986
Bangladeshi general election, 1986
The Third National Parliamentary Elections 1986 were held in Bangladesh on 7 May 1986. A total of 1,527 candidates contested the election. The result was a victory for the Jatiya Party, which won 153 of the 300 seats. Voter turnout was 61.1%. Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the winner of the...
. 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
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
three times and his Jatiya Party is the second largest party in Bangladesh's coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
as elected in Bangladeshi general election, 2008.
1996 Coup
In 1996, army chief Lt. General Abu Saleh Mohammad NasimAbu Saleh Mohammad Nasim
Lieutenant General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim, Bir Bikrom is a former Chief of the Bangladesh Army. He participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War and was awarded Bir Bikrom for valor by the government in 1971. He was injured in one leg during this war. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff by the...
Bir Bikram, a decorated freedom fighter who was appointed army chief by the previous Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia of 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...
, refused to execute the President's order to sack some of Nasim's favourite army commanders. In the days following the sacking there was considerable military build up in and around Dhaka as troops loyal to the President led by senior commanders like Major General Matin, Major General Imamuzzaman (all renowned freedom fighters) prepared to defend the capital Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
from those loyal to the General who were advancing towards Dhaka from districts. However, the situation was politically defused at the initiative of the Caretaker Government
Caretaker government
Caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. A caretaker government is often set up following a war until stable democratic rule can be restored, or installed, in which case it is often referred to as a provisional government...
led by Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman. General Nasim was arrested and General Mahbubur Rahman
Mahbubur Rahman
Mahbubur Rahman is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in one ODI in 1999.In the 1980s Mymensingh was a great hub for producing cricketing talent in Bangladesh. Mahbubur Rahman, also known as Selim, was one of the finest talents to come from there. A right-handed middle order batsman, he...
, a non-freedom fighter army commander, was appointed the new army chief. General Nasim's associates General Ibrahim and few others were sacked and tried in a military court. Later in the year after the election, the new center-left government led by the Awami League overturned Nasim's dismissal and offered him a regular retirement instead, sent General Rahman on mandatory retirement, and appointed General Mustafizur Rahman, a freedom fighter who was at 7 days to end his leave prior retirement (LPR), as the new army chief. General Mustafiz is related (Uncle) to Awami League President Shiekh Hasina.
2007 Coup
Army chief Moeen U AhmedMoeen U Ahmed
General Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc psc was Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 15 June 2005 to 15 June 2009. Previously, he worked as in diplomatic mission in Pakistan as a Defence Attaché, prior to that he served as a UN Peacekeeper in United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda.General...
was the key force behind the declaration of emergency in the country on 11 January 2007 widely known as 1/11 phenomenon or coup while staying behind. He has been accused of forcing then president to resign from being chief of caretaker government of Bangladesh. Although never publicly admitted but he was praised for not declaring martial law. He and his chosen government has been accused domestically and globally to de-politicize the country. Hundreds of political figures including two ex-prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers and local government heads have been imprisoned by the regime accusing them of corruption. He initiated Minus 2 formula but failed.
See also
- Abu Saleh Mohammad NasimAbu Saleh Mohammad NasimLieutenant General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim, Bir Bikrom is a former Chief of the Bangladesh Army. He participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War and was awarded Bir Bikrom for valor by the government in 1971. He was injured in one leg during this war. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff by the...
- Abu TaherAbu TaherLieutenant Colonel Abu Taher a communist and a left-leaning radical activist of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, responsible for the Soldiers Uprising and the radical breakout that occurred in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh on Nov 7th 1975...
- Hussain Muhammad Ershad
- Sheikh Mujibur RahmanSheikh Mujibur RahmanSheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
- Ziaur RahmanZiaur RahmanPresident 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...