How Ershad became President?
HM Ershad became president of Bangladesh in a newer way unknown to the people. Practically he became president removing the elected president of the republic through a bloodless coup.
The day was March 24, 1982. He became the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA). He played all the game behind the screen of making Justice AFM Ahsanuddin Chowdhury as president removing the then President, Justice Abdus Sattar. Finally Ershad himself became president by removing Justice AFM Ahsanuddin Chowdhury on December 11 of 1983.
There are two opinions about taking of power by Ershad. BNP claims that Ershad removed Justice Sattar on gun point while Ershad claimed that Jusice Sattar voluntarily handed over power to Ershad.
While as CMLA he gave election in 1984. At that time the political parties boycotted the election that resulted in the suspension of the process. Then he wanted to consolidate his power through making a new political party for him. He first formed 18- point implementation committees across the country. That 18 -point committee was later on converted into Janadal. On August 16, 1985 he merged Janadal, UPP, Ganatantrik party, BNP(Shah), Muslim League(Sa) and formed National Front. After four months fourteen days Ershad formed Jatiya Party(JP) on January 1 of 1986.
Ershad became president for the second time through a rigged and one sided election held on October 23 of 1986. He left his military uniform after this election. But though he brought an artificial democracy of his own style he could not finally saved himself. His downfall came on December 6 of 1990.
He was in power for almost nine years. His frequent changing habits of the cabinet often created jokes in the country. His extra attraction to the eves was also very discussed feature of his character which continued till few years back. However he took some good initiatives for the overall development of the country.
His initiatives of making the capital attractive and easy going were very much appreciable and visible. Twenty two new roads including Bijoy Sarani, Rokeya Sarani, Panthaapath, Dhaka city protection embankment, completion of the National Memorial at Savar, radical improvement of the communication system across the country by building and renovating the old and new road network connecting through bridges and bailey bridges were remarkable.
He was the first ruler of this country who took historical decisions by decentralizing the administration. The upazilla system was the outcome of that decentralization system. He made 64 districts by dividing the existing 19 districts and at the same time 464 upazillas were also created. He took the High Court benches out side Dhaka to make the judiciary available to the poor people. However he had to amend the decision of setting up higher courts outsideDhaka and was again reinstated in the face stiff opposition by the both lawyers and bench members. He set up courts and jails in the upazillas.
His drug policy, reforms in land law, sending troops to UN peacekeeping mission were some of his epoch making steps in state policy. But the upazilla system was suspended for some time after his departure from power but Awami League revived the system.
After he was dethroned in the face of popular movement several cases were filed against him in connection with Radar purchase, Janata Tower, Major General Manjur murder , procurement of equipments of BTV. After his resignation he was sent to jail where he had stayed for six years.
In 1990 being imprisoned he was elected from five Jatiya Sangsad seats in Rangpur. After that he was elected parliament member in every election. In 2008 he was elected MP from a Dhaka constituency.
In 2014 after many dramas he became the special envoy (status of cabinet minister) of the Prime Minister after being elected as MP. In the current parliament he was elected from Rangpur -3. He took the responsibility of the leader of Opposition in the parliament. Jatiya Party founded by Ershad played the role of Opposition party at a stretch for two terms, though many quarters term JP as a domestic opposition party of the ruling government.