Two-year rule planned

Press, 29 March 1982, Page 8

Two-year rule planned

NZPA Dacca Bangladesh's new ruler. Lieutenant-General Hassain Ershad, said yesterday that he planned keeping martial law power in the country for the next two years. General Ershad, who ousted the four-month-old Government of President Abdus Sattar in a bloodless coup on Wednesday, told journalists in Dacca that he had taken over power because of deteriorating law and order and a serious economic' crisis facing the poverty-stricken nation. “My time-frame is two years. If we meet our objectives we will go back to the barracks," he said. His administration was going to be very severe with those found guilty of corruption and misuse’ of power, and he said he expected trials before military courts to begin very soon. At least 230 people, including a former Deputy Prime Minister and four former Ministers, have been arrested and are under investigation.

Asked if military officers would also be tried if found to have acquired property by corruption, ■ General Ershad said: “Nobody will be spared if they are found guilty.” He said that the former President, Mr Justice Sattar, was an honest man but he could not control the former ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party. “There was violence, in the university, a man wanted on a mu r der charge was found at a Minister's house and there was in-fighting in the 8.N.P.." he said. “Nobody could take any decision, yet a serious economic Ci .sis . faced the country “