Ershad – from a powerful autocrat to a political joker
Ershad, photo: collected
A human being may have many faces. But a man and politician with so many faces are really rare in history. Simultaneously he was a cruel autocrat and but loved poetry and women. A powerful tyrant Ershad had become a political joker in the last end of his life. Ershad was called a permanent CMLA. Before 1990 he was the Chief Martial Law Administrator(CMLA) while of late after ‘90s it was coined as Cancel My Last Announcement(CMLA). Because he had no compare in changing his decisions frequently.
Like many others I have watched Ershad from March 24, 1982 to July 14, 2019 very closely. After the death of Ziaur Rahman Justice Sattar was elected President nominated by BNP. There is a strong belief in many quarters that Ershad was the mastermind in the killing of Ziaur Rahman. He managed a cold blooded murder by killing General Manjur also to hide the truth of his conspiracy behind Ziaur Rahman’s killing. Ershad was also the main accused in the Manjur murder case. So his ambition to take over power by killing Zia was very old and far reaching. But Zia made Ershad army chief as safe. Zia thought that Ershad will remain busy with his poetry and women so he will be not a threat for him. But Zia even none failed to recognize the real face of Ershad. Ershad very tactfully wanted to kill many birds by one stone. After killing Zia, Manjur then accusing some brilliant freedom fighters officers of the army in the name of a fake trial hanged them for killing Zia. Ershad cleared his way by killing the freedom fighter officers. He also managed to create a hue and cry against corruption across the country against Justice Sattar’s government. At that time one terrorist was captured from the house of one minister of the then BNP government. It was then felt that some one was playing a game behind the scene to vilify Sattar government in the eye of the people.
However after that incident Ershad did not keep himself behind the scene. He came out and removed President Sattar on gun point and also took over the whole authority of the country. Then he ruled the country for long nine years at a stretch. Ershad was the first and last word during this time.
Ershad came to power in March of 1982. But within a short while the students of Dhaka University expressed their strong resentment in mid February against the martial law. Ershad suppressed that movement in a very cruel way. Many brilliant students including Jafar, Zainal, Kanchan, Dipali Saha embraced martyrdom. The police of Ershad killed Selim – Delwar in Fulbaria rail station area in the capital(now Bangabazar) under the wheel of truck when the students brought out a procession their. Ershad’s police killed one Jubo League activist in a point blank range by shooting who was on the street near GPO inscribing the word on his chest ‘ Let the autocrat be doomed and on the back ‘Let the democracy be freed’. In the mass upsurge of October ’90 JCD activist Zehad was killed near Dhaka University. Actually the death of Zehad signaled the downfall of Ershad and the death of Dr. Milon on November 27, 1990 gave the final push for Ershad’s downfall for reaching the final destination.
Still he was in power for ten more days but almost empty powerless. The long nine years of Ershad regime was the period of movement, struggle and revolts. Ersahd’s hands were stained with the blood of the martyrs. Student leader Mintoo Anowar’s father was also against Ershad. Once Ershad in a public meeting raising hand up said that, ‘Just see my hands are clear, it is not stained with blood.’ Father of Mintoo Bhai hearing this in the TV broke it by throwing a paper weight on the monitor.
However it must be admitted that the long nine years of Ershad regime in Bangladesh was the golden period of creativity. As if creativity in all fields in the movement against autocracy, the news papers, cartoonist, singers, poets made their highest contributions making Ersahd a cruel joker. The Combined Cultural Alliance(Sanmilita Sanskritik Jote) and the professionals were in the field against the movement waged against Ershad. The Kabita Parishad was formed solely protesting the royal poetry practitioners.
After his downfall Ershad was in prison about five years. Then he took a different face. Where was his power as a cruel autocrat? He became a politician of impatient nature always suffering from indecisions. He made alliance with Awami League on a day and with BNP on next day. His long nine year rule he made the whole Bangladesh a script for writing poetry according to his will. After his fall he made Jatiya Party(JP) for writing his poetry. Ho took decisions keeping scope of frequent changing. Ruhul Amin Howladar was party secretary general in the morning while in the afternoon the post went to Mashiur Rahman Ranga. Oneday Rowshan is most powerful while tomorrow GM Kader.
I felt very much deceived whenever I found Ershad tagged against any autocratic movement either with Awami League or BNP. However his movement along with BNP against the national election of 2014 was seemed to be justified to me. Ershad did not want to participate in the election. Even he expressed his desire to the journalists to commit suicide if he is forced to participate in the one sided election. I felt pain to see the powerful autocrat in such a helpless condition. However Ershad was interned in CMH and JP was brought to election of 2014 under the leadership of Rowshan Ershad.
Next Ersahd went to Bangabahvan directly from CMH in the oath taking ceremony. Unwilling to participate in the election came out from Bnagabhavan as the special envoy of the Prime Minister in the rank and status of a cabinet minister. Ershad became late in reaching Bangabhavan on that day. When he reached Bangabhavan the hall room was full of guests, officials, MPs and others who all burst into laugh spontaneously. I have seen Ershad in one span of life both as powerful tyrant and also a political joker.
However you can dislike Ershad, you can hate, you can laugh at him but you cannot deny him. Ershad is such an element of Bangladesh politics that you cannot ignore.
