Fall of Autocracy Day today

The nation is observing Fall of Autocracy Day across the country today, marking the fall of military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who had stepped down on December 6, 1990.

Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations are holding elaborate programmes to mark the day.

After the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 in 1975, Ziaur Rahman seized power violating the Constitution and formed Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). After Zia, HM Ershad, another military dictator, ousted Abdus Sattar to assume power on March 24, 1982, formed Jatiya Party and played the same game.

In the face of a mass upsurge, Ershad handed power over to a caretaker government ending his nine years of autocratic rule which he had begun through grabbing power in a coup and issuing martial law.

Three political alliances led by Awami League, BNP and the leftist parties had launched continuous movement and made Ershad bound to quit.