Sheikh Rahman to Hasina: History of Army Engineered Coups In Bangladesh

Bangladesh Crisis: Highly politically unstable Bangladesh is under the Army rule now after the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday amid the violent protests in the country over a new quota move by the government. The unstable political situation resulted in a military coup, forcing Hasina to leave the country. According to reports, Hasina has arrived in India and is enroute to Delhi. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that he's taking the responsibility of the country, till the time the next government is formed. The Army has said that it's in talks with the Opposition leaders amid a high volatile situation in the nation.

Not the first time when Bangladesh is witnessing a coup. The country has undergone several government changes since the Proclamation of Independence in 1971. From the very first time in August 1975 to the last one in December 2011, Bangladesh has been through several military coups. Let's take a look at some major ones. 

1975 coup 

On August 15, 1975, Bangladesh witnessed its first military coup launched by mid ranking army officers who planned to replace the secular government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with an Islamic government led by Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed. Sheikh Mujib and most of his family members were killed in the coup.

Failed coup attempts between 1977–1980 

Former Presiden Ziaur Rahman, who survived over 20 assassination attempts since the first war of Independence in 1971, was finally killed on May 30, 1981 by the Army.

1982 coup

Lt. Gen Ziaur Rahman, a former Bangladesh Army officer and President of the country from 1977 was assassinated by the military officers when he went to Chittagong on May 29, 1981, to resolve an internal party dispute in the regional Bangladesh National Party. 

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1996 coup attempt

Lieutenant General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim staged an abortive coup in 1996 against the Caretaker government. On 19 May 1996, Abdur Rahman Biswas, the President of Bangladesh during a caretaker government, ordered Nasim to force the retirement of two senior army officers. The President believed that they were involved in political activities with opposition parties. Nasim refused to comply.

2007 coup against caretaker government

The 2007 coup in Bangladesh was a significant event during the country’s political crisis from 2006 to 2008. On January 11, 2007, the military, led by Army Chief Lt. Gen Moeen U. Ahmed, intervened and backed a caretaker government (CTG) to restore order amid escalating political violence and instability. 

This caretaker government, headed by Fakhruddin Ahmed, ruled the country for nearly two years.

The coup was triggered by intense political conflict between the two major parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and widespread allegations of corruption and electoral fraud. The military-backed CTG aimed to clean up corruption and ensure fair elections, which eventually took place in December 2008, leading to Sheikh Hasina’s return to power.

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2011 Bangladesh coup attempt

A coup which was planning for over two years to establish Islamic law in Bangladesh was stopped by the Army. It was being planned for January 11-12, 2012 but was foiled by Army in December 2011.

Several Army officers including retired ones were arrested. The objective behind establishing Islamic law in Bangladesh was the result of many nationalists thinking that the nation was turning into a puppet of India.