1981 Bangladeshi presidential election

Background

On 30 May 1981 president Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by a faction of rebel officers of the Bangladesh Army. Following the assassination, Vice President Abdus Sattar automatically became the acting president, despite being in hospital at the time. Speaking to foreign reporters in Bangabhaban on 4 June, Sattar announced that in line with the constitution, elections would be held within 180 days of the death of the former president, to "foil any conspiracy to disturb the democratic process in the country."

Campaign

According to the New York Times, much of the campaign revolved around the legacy of the two late leaders of the BNP and Awami League, Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On the day before the elections, the newspaper reported "Despite the lively participation of 26 candidates, the Bangladesh presidential election campaign that ended here today has been dominated almost entirely by the auras of two dead adversaries. The two - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence and was killed in 1975, and Gen. Ziaur Rahman, who governed for five years until he was murdered by army officers last May 30 - were the centerpieces at huge rallies that the two major parties staged here in the capital."

Among the minor candidates was Saifur Rahman (popularly known as "Chhokka Chhoyfur"), a cook and pushcart driver from Sylhet who contested as an independent. Despite his humble background and grassroots campaign, he finished eighth; reflecting on the result in a later interview, he humorously remarked that he was the "eighth President" of the country and could have taken office had the seven candidates ahead of him passed away on election day. His campaign was noted for its grassroots nature, including his initial refusal of state security on the grounds that he could not afford to provide their meals.

Results

Aftermath

Sattar was overthrown in a bloodless coup d'état in March 1982 by the Army Chief of Staff, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who assumed the Presidency in 1983, until being deposed himself in a popular mass uprising in 1990.

References

References

1. [[Dieter Nohlen]], Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I'', p525 {{ISBN. 0-19-924958-X
2. Ahsan, Syed Badrul. (21 March 2024). "The coup d'etat of March 1982". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
3. Nohlen ''et al''., p545
4. (5 June 1981). "Acting President in Dacca Promises New Elections".
5. (14 November 1981). "In Bangladesh Election, the Aura of Two Dead Leaders Is Pervasive".
6. (26 November 2018). "ছক্কা ছয়ফুর: সিলেটের কেজরিওয়াল".
7. (18 July 2019). "General Ershad: The deposed dictator who became kingmaker".