Transitional Politics in Bangladesh: A Study of Sattar's Interim Presidency

Shaukat Hassan

India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 1983, vol. 39, issue 3, 263-280

Abstract: President Ziaur Rahman's assassination at the hands of miscreants in the vort of Chittagong in May 1981 stunned his compatriots. Zia was the first popularly elected president with a 77 per cent electoral mandate. His youth, igour and dedication had earned him the respect of his countrymen. He was he only President to establish genuine and regular political contact with the ural majority, bringing to them the promise of a better life. And in the eyes f the informed public he had pulled Bangladesh out of the backwaters of the sian sub-continent into the glare of international limelight. But his sudden eath threw the nation into chaos and uncertainty, and a resolute adherance the Constitution seemed to be the only modus operandi ad interim. The mediate reaction of the government, the opposition parties and the armed ervices to the news of the assassination was a spirited portrayal of national nity. With Zia's Cabinet still intact, the ailing septuagenarian Vice President, bdus Sattar, was hurriedly brought from an army hospital and sworn in as e Acting President, 1 pending presidential elections within 180 days as was equired by the Constitution. 2 Immediately after, the new Acting President roclaimed a state of emergency 3 as a step towards national consolidation. n emergency Cabinet meeting was held, following which Sattar declared his overnment's resolution to honour Zia's international commitments and carry rward his domestic policies and objectives. Next, the Chiefs of the Armed ervices, the Intelligence Services, the Bangladesh Rifles and the Police were mmoned to the “Bangabhaban,†and their total support to Sattar's interim overnment was publicly announced. The parliamentary group of the Banglaesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the party then in power, also hurriedly met in special session to reaffirm the party's solidarity with and total support Sattar. Sattar also invited the leaders of the opposition parties to “Bangahaban†and secured assurances of their full support to his transitional governtent. The chiefs of the navy and army in their television broadcasts assured he nation of their allegiance to Sattar and their united commitment to contain he rebellion in Chittagong expeditiously. Thus, within 48 hours after Zia's ssassination, the new government managed to portray a picture of national nity and solidarity, though the national crises that loomed large were yet to e resolved.

Date: 1983
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DOI: 10.1177/097492848303900302

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