Ershad: I did not wish to be in power

Former military dictator and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has claimed that he did not wish to come to power in 1982 and had reluctantly formed a political party in 1986. He made the comments during a general discussion on FY2017-18 national budget at the Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday, reports Bangla Tribune. Ershad said: “It was not my fault. I came to power for the people, for the country. I wanted to return to the barracks after holding a national election but no one participated.” Further explaining his reasons to come to power, he said: “Justice Abdus Sattar wanted to hold an election and I helped him as the country’s Army chief. However, within a year, Sattar said all his ministers were corrupt and that he was unable to govern the country as its president. He said he wanted to handover power to the army. “We were not prepared and running a country is not an easy task. I realise that. I did not want to takeover but there was no other way. I was forced to take the responsibility. “The day I took power, I said I will return to the barracks after bringing discipline to the country through holding an election and I had kept my words. “I held the election in 1984 but no one – Awami League, BNP, Jamaat – participated. If they had, I would have gone back.” Pointing out that Hasanul Haq Inu and Rashed Khan Menon, who were present at the discussion, also did not participate in the election, Ershad said the situation had then forced him to create Jatiya Party in 1986. He said: “People say I am a dictator but the power was handed over to me. I did it for the people of the country and for that I had to be in jail for six years, facing inhumane torture. “Could not see the stars in the sky nor could I have sweets, regardless of how much I wanted it.”