Govt soldiers kill rebel general

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 8

Govt soldiers kill rebel general

NZPA-Reuter Dacca Soldiers loyal to the Bangladesh Government killed Major-General Abul Manzur, leader of an abortive revolt in which President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated on Saturday. Radio Bangladesh said yesterday. General Manzur was killed by the soldiers on Monday night while he was being taken to the southern port of Chittagong after the police had arrested him in a remote village near Fatikchari, about 100 km away. General Manzur and his accomplices in the rebellion fled from Chittagong early on Monday after the Government rejected their offer of talks and demanded an unconditional surrender. The Government had offered a 5NZ34.200 reward

for his capture, “dead or alive." The assassinated president was buried with full military honours yesterday. His body had been flown to Dacca on Mondav from Chittagong. The Acting President (Mr Justice Abdus Sattar) paid glowing tributes to President Ziaur in a radio broadcast. He praised him for restoring democracy to Bangladesh and guiding its citizens towards progress. Mr Justice Sattar said the assassins would be tried and punished according to the country's law. He did not mention any arrests. A military source said that the only fighting he knew had taken place during the revolt occurred when the killers stormed the Chitta-

gong guest house where the president was staying. He said eight people, including a rebel officer, were killed during the attack. The source described it as a commando-stvle raid. The president was killed by sub-machine-gun fire when he opened the door of his room to see what was happening. Among those killed in the attack were a security officer and an officer of the guard. Tens of thousands of people queued to file past the flower-covered coffin of the president in front of Parliament House. He was popular, particularly with the rural people, and political leaders have united in condemning the assassination. Hasina Wased, leader of

the opposition Awami League, was quoted on Sunday as calling on the Government to continue the "democratic and constitutional process to face and overcome the present crisis." Because of LieutenantGeneral Ziaur's death, elections for a new president must, under the Constitution, be held within 180 days. Mr Justice Sattar, aged 75, is not in good health, according to officials, and it is unclear whether he will be a candidate. The president's Bangladesh Nationalist Party won 220 of the 300 parliamentary seats at stake in General Elections earty in 1979. The party has already pledged to continue his programmes aimed at national' development and economic self-sufficiency.