Bangladesh

For the history of the territory prior to 1947, see India; Pakistan. The people of East Pakistan Province declared their independence as the nation of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971, while fighting a savage war against the central Pakistani government. The fiscal separation from Pakistan took place, with extensive aid from India, on December 16, 1971. Bangladesh was soon recognized by most other nations, although Pakistan withheld diplomatic recognition until 1974 and China did not recognize the nation until 1976. Bangladesh was admitted to the United Nations in 1974. The country's initial government was formed in January 1972 under the charismatic leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as Mujib, who became prime minister. His immediate tasks were to rebuild the war-ravaged nation, reestablish law and order, and reintegrate the numerous Bengalis returning from India. A longer-range goal was to foster economic growth in order to raise the very low living standards of the densely populated nation. In the first years of independence Bangladesh received much aid from abroad, and Mujib nationalized major industries as part of his program of developing the country along the lines of democratic socialism. He had little success, however, in improving the economy, and lawlessness prevailed. In mid-1974 the country was devastated by floods that destroyed much of the grain crop. At the same time, political disorder was increasing, and in late 1974 a national state of emergency was declared. In early 1975 Mujib became president under a remodeled constitution that granted him virtually dictatorial power. He was unable to stabilize the political situation, however, and was killed in a military coup d'état on August 15, 1975. In November military leaders ousted Mujib's successor, Khandakar Mushtaque Ahmed, who had initiated martial law, and installed Abusadat Muhammad Sayem as president. General Ziaur Rahman assumed the presidency when Sayem resigned in 1977. Martial law was lifted in 1979, following parliamentary elections. Despite a continuing food shortage, the nation made considerable economic progress in 1980 and 1981. President Rahman was assassinated in May 1981 as part of an abortive military coup. He was succeeded by Vice President Abdus Sattar, who won election to the presidency in his own right in November. However, a bloodless military coup in March 1982 brought General Hossain Mohammad Ershad to power. After suspending the constitution and abolishing all political parties, Ershad ruled by martial law under a figurehead president.  A proposal by Ershad to require all schools to teach Arabic and the Koran sparked demonstrations and riots in February 1983. Later in the year limited political activities were allowed to resume; in December Ershad assumed the presidency. The long-postponed parliamentary elections took place in May 1986. Some members boycotted the initial meetings of parliament because Ershad did not lift martial law. In an October 1986 presidential election that was boycotted by opposition parties, Ershad was elected to a five-year term with a majority of more than 80 percent. In November, after parliament passed legislation protecting his military regime from reprisals, Ershad lifted martial law and reinstated the constitution. Devastating floods in September 1988 inundated about three-fourths of the country and left an estimated 30 million people homeless. Faced with rising political opposition, Ershad resigned in December 1990; he was subsequently convicted and imprisoned on charges of corruption and illegal weapons possession. In February 1991, Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of President Rahman, was elected prime minister, which, after a constitution change later that year, became the governmental position with primary executive power. New elections were held in February 1996, but a boycott led by opposition parties triggered low voter turnout and violence, and Begum Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party won by default. The opposition parties refused to recognize the election results and called a general strike, which had a negative effect on Bangladesh's already strained economy. By late March Zia agreed to resign and allow a caretaker government to preside over new elections. Former Supreme Court Chief justice Mohammad Habibur Rayman was named chief advisor of the caretaker government under President Abdur Rahman Biswas. New elections, held in June, brought a shift in power to Bangladesh. The Awami League won the most votes and, forming a coalition with the Jatiya Party, gained a majority in the parliament. Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League and longtime foe of Zia, was named prime minister. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, winning slightly more than one-third of the parliament's seats, formed the official opposition.