After the violent agitation over reservation, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled. Now Bangladesh Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman has spoken of taking responsibility for the country. He has appealed to people to maintain peace. The story of politics in Bangladesh and Pakistan is not much different. The army has dominated power in both countries. Since independence from Pakistan, there are many incidents of army usurping power in the history of Bangladesh. Even Sheikh Mujiburahman, who is called the father of independent Bangladesh, was killed due to rebellion in the army. Once again Bangladesh seems to be heading towards military rule.
A video was played on TV which is a big message for the future of Bangladesh. The crowd of protesters also attacked the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and broke it. Let us tell you that Mujib was assassinated during the army revolt in 1975. Almost his entire family was killed except Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina had to take refuge in India.
1971 war
In the 1970 general election, Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won a big majority by winning 160 out of 162 seats in East Pakistan. In West Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s PPP won 81 out of 138 seats. Even after the victory of Awami League, Pakistan’s army chief Yahya Khan took power under martial law. He refused to give command to Mujibur Rahman. After this, tension increased in East Pakistan and a movement started in the name of Bengali culture, language and nationalism.
7 March 1971 rang the trumpet of independence of Bangladesh in East Pakistan. After this, Pakistan started a military operation and started killing people in large numbers. People in Bangladesh started being tortured. After this, Bengali soldiers in East Pakistan revolted and Bangladesh became independent with the intervention of India. After the independence of Bangladesh, members of Mukti Bahini joined the army. However, after some time, discontent started growing in the army. It was said that there was discrimination between soldiers who revolted against Pakistan and those who did not revolt.
The first coup after four years
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujiburahman and his family were assassinated on 15 August 1975. After this, Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India. Her sister Sheikh Rehana was also with her. Major Syed Faruk Rahman, Major Khandaker Abdul Rashid and leader Khondaker Mushtaq Ahmed formed a new government. Mushtaq Ahmed was made the President and Major General Ziaur Rahman became the new Army Chief.
Second coup
A few months later, Brigadier Khalid Musharraf staged another coup. He was considered a supporter of Mujib. He himself became the army chief and Ziaur Rahman was put under house arrest. It was believed that Rahman had a hand in the murder of Bangabandhu.
Soon the third coup took place and leftist soldiers along with politicians revolted. This is known as Sepoy Janata Kranti. Musharraf was assassinated and Ziaur Rahman became the President. After this, in 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and won the elections. However, in 1981, a section of the army revolted under the leadership of Major General Manzoor. The rebels alleged that the President supported those who did not support the war of independence. On 24 March 1982, Army Chief Lieutenant General Hussain Mohammad Ershad abolished the Constitution and imposed military rule and removed President Abdul Sattar. In 1986, Ershad formed the Jatiya Party and held general elections. Ershad remained President till 1990.
In 1991, parliamentary democracy returned to Bangladesh once again. When the tenure of BNP-Jamaat ended in 2006, Awami League returned again. In October, President Iajuddin Ahmed declared himself the head of the interim government. After this, elections were announced. However, in January 2007, Army Chief Lieutenant General Moin Ahmed again staged a military coup and formed an army-backed interim government. Military rule ended in 2008 when Sheikh Hasina’s government was formed after the elections. Now once again Bangladesh has moved towards military rule.
