Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Hussain Muhammad Ershad

Role / Field:

Bangladeshi military officer, dictator, and politician who served as President of Bangladesh.

Born:

1930-02-01

Died:

2019-07-14

Century / Era:

1930s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1 February 1930 – 14 July 2019) was a Bangladeshi military officer, dictator and politician who served as President of Bangladesh from 1983 to 1990. He seized power as a result of a bloodless coup against President Abdus Sattar on 24 March 1982 (by imposing martial law and suspending the Constitution). He declared himself President in 1983, and subsequently won the controversial 1986 Bangladeshi presidential election. Despite claims to have legitimately won the 1986 election, many consider his regime as a military regime.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ershad founded the Jatiya Party in 1986 and became a Member of Parliament for JP in the constituency of Rangpur-3 in 1991, with successful re-elections in all subsequent general elections. He was the longest serving male head of government in Bangladeshi history. He contributed to developments in infrastructure and socio-economic growth, divesting key nationalised industries. In 1989, Ershad pushed parliament to make Islam the state religion, in a sharp departure from Bangladesh's original secular constitution. Ershad was forced to resign as president following a popular mass uprising led by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf Wölfli — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Swiss outsider artist known for meticulous, symbolic, and autobiographical works.
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• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• Agnès Varda — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• Akihito — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
• A. A. K. Niazi — Shared historical date (02-01 · Died) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Albert Günther — Shared historical date (02-01 · Died) (1914): Pioneering zoologist and ichthyologist, renowned for massive contributions to taxonomy.
• Alphonse Mucha — Shared historical date (07-14 · Died) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Angélique Kidjo — Shared historical date (07-14 · Born) (1960): Esteemed French-Beninese musician, activist, and cultural ambassador.
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• February 1 (02-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 1
• 2019 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2019
• July 14 (07-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 14

Frequently Asked Questions about Hussain Muhammad Ershad