Military coups in Bangladesh
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Bangladesh has faced several military coups since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
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[edit] 1975 coups
[edit] 15 August
The coup of 15 August, 1975 was organized by some junior officers of Bangladesh Army. 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 Awami League. A civilian court in 1999, during the trial of the killers of Sheikh Mujib however observed in its verdict that the senior army commander and later President Ziaur Rahman had the fore-knowledge of the coup, and covertly co-operated with the rebel majors.
[edit] 3 November
The government set up by Major Faruque, Major Rashid and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad 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 took the army chief and fellow freedom fighter General Ziaur Rahman as a prisoner but did not execute him apparently because of Zia's huge popularity among the army. Some also claim that personal friendship between the two generals prevented General Musharraf to decide for a execution.
[edit] 7 November
General Mosharraf's 3 day coup ended due to upsurge of patriot general soldiers of Bangladesh Army. They freed their popular leader General Zaia from house arrest. They killed the coup leader Gen Khaled Mosharraf and his associates. As learned from former Army Chief General Shafiullah that many JSD elements infiltrated in the army in early 1975. It is apprehended that they may have contribution in Mujib killing also. At that time JSD stood against Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman. On 6-7 November 1975 some of the JSD elements distributed leaflets and agitated few soldiers against the officer class of the army. JSD tried to take the credit and claimed that in a counter-coup organized mainly by former army Colonel Abu Taher. However, later Colonel Taher was charged for causing a mutiny against command structure of the army, tried in a special tribunal and sentenced to death.
[edit] 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 Zia's liaison with anti liberation pro Islamic quarters. He strongly carried on oppression of rebel officers, and by the time he was assassinated in 1981 most freedom-fighters in Bangladesh army were executed or sacked.
[edit] 1981 coup
The coup of 30 April, 1981 took place in the southern port city of Chittagong, where President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers led by General Manjur, another freedom fighter of General Zia. While it said that General Manjur was annoyed with Zia over military and personal issues like not making him as Army Chief and later transfering him to staff college, many quarters including General Zia'a widow and later Prime Minister Khaleda Zia over the years have accused the then army chief and later President Hossain Mohammad Ershad to have covertly organised that coup using General Manjur.
[edit] 1982 coup
General Hossain Mohammad Ershad organized a blood less coup on 25 March, 1982 when he overthrew the elected president Abdus Sattar of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and took over as Chief Martial Law Administrator. He remained in power until 1990 when the military withdrew its support of his dictatorship against the backdrop of mass movement.
[edit] Later coup attempts
In 1996, Bangladesh army chief Lt. General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim 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 Presidents 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 reknown 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 Governemnt led by Justice 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 offerred 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Mascarenhas, Anthony. Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1986.bn:বাংলাদেশে সামরিক অভ্যুত্থান
