HM Ershad passes away

GBnews24 desk//

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has passed away today morning while undergoing treatment in the capital’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH). He was 89.

He breathed his last at 7.45am today at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

The former military ruler had been suffering from old age complications and was admitted to the hospital recently.

Born in 1930, the former Bangladeshi Army Chief and politician had served as the President of Bangladesh from 1983 to 1990.

He seized power as head of the army during a bloodless coup against President Abdus Sattar on April 24, 1982, “by imposing martial law and suspending the Constitution.”

He declared himself President in 1983 and subsequently won the controversial1986 Bangladeshi presidential election.

Despite claims to have legitimately won the 1986 election, many consider his regime as an era of military dictatorship.

Ershad served in the Presidential office until 1990, when he was forced to resign following a popular pro-democracy mass uprising led by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Ershad founded the Jatiya Party in 1986 and became a Member of Parliament for that party in the constituency of Rangpur-3 in 1991, with successful re-election in all subsequent general elections.

In 1989, he pushed parliament to make Islam the state religion.

Ershad was awarded United Nations Population Award in 1987 for his contributions to population and environmental issues.

He was found guilty in Janata Tower corruption case and was sentenced by the trial court to seven years imprisonment. Later the High Court Division affirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence to five years.

He was the Leader of the Opposition in the 11th parliament and served as the special envoy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her last term.

Ershad was married to Rowshan Ershad. And later, he married Bidisha which ended in a divorce later.

He left behind his party men and a host of followers to mourn his death