The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

On this day (December 6) in 1990, the then autocratic ruler General Hossain Mohammad Ershad was forced to step down from the presidency following mass upsurge that paved the way for the restoration of partliamentary democracy.

The movement was led together by the BNP-led seven-party alliance, Awami League-led eight-party alliance and left leaning five-party alliance. The student community was in the forefront of the movement from the very beginning in 1983.

The Army Chief Lt General Hossain Mohammad Ershad usurped the state power by toppling the elected Government of the then President Justice Abdus Sattar in a bloodless coup on March 24, 1982 and announced martial law in the country.