Hussain Muhammad Ershad

In 1956, this politician married Begum Raushan, who is also a member of the ‘Jatiya Party’ in Bangladesh. The couple have a daughter, Mahajebin and an adopted son, Shad.

Shad is married to the grand-daughter of business stalwart M.R. Khan, Mahima Ahmed. Mahajebin, has post graduate degrees in Graphic Designing, and Cultural Studies, from the ‘London School of Art’ and the ‘London School of Economics’ and resides with her husband and children in London.

Ershad has also been married to a woman named Bidisha, who he divorced because allegedly she kept her first marriage a secret. He had a third marriage with Marieum Mumtaz, who accused the politician of having left her, and thus the latter sought annulment.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad was born on February 1, 1930 in the Rangpur district of present day Bangladesh.

He started attending 'Carmichael College' in Rangpur, and later continued his higher education at the 'University of Dhaka', graduating in 1950. Two years later, Ershad served in the Pakistan Army, following which he was recruited by the ‘East Bengal Regiment’ of Chittagong.

In 1966, he started pursuing military courses from the ‘Command and Staff College’ in Quetta, Pakistan. After a period of three years, he was given charge of the third ‘East Bengal Regiment’.

In 1971, during the ‘Liberation War’ of Bangladesh, he served as commander in the seventh ‘East Bengal Regiment’.

In 1973, Hussein was sent back to Bangladesh by the Pakistan Army, after Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto signed the 'Simla Agreement'.

After the first president of Bangladesh, Sheik Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, his successor Ziaur Rahman promoted Ershad in 1978 as the Chief of the army staff and the next year as lieutenant-general of the army.

In 1981, Major General A. Manzoor led a few other army officers in the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman. This politically chaotic situation was brought under control by Ershad, and he helped the ruling 'Bangladesh Nationalist Party'.

On March 24, 1982, he took over the state power from Abdus Sattar, who was, according to the former, unable to govern due to health ailments. He introduced the martial law, which enabled him to remove the cabinet and parliament members, controlling corruption by arresting several former cabinet members.

In the following years, he rescheduled important dates of election, and formed the 'Jatiya Party' in 1986. The same year, the military leader was elected President for a term of five years.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a former President of Bangladesh who, during his term brought about changes in many policies of government industries, and introduced major land reforms that gave several rights to tenants. He is also known for resting all political power in the hands of military officials, by establishing the martial law.