Khaleda administration.2C 1991.E2.80.9396 History of Bangladesh after independence

prime minister zia united states president bill clinton.

the centre-right bnp won plurality of seats , formed government support islamic party jamaat-i-islami, khaleda zia, widow of ziaur rahman, obtaining post of prime minister. 4 parties had more 10 members elected 1991 parliament: bnp, led prime minister begum khaleda zia; al, led sheikh hasina; jamaat-i-islami (ji), led ghulam azam; , jatiya party (jp), led acting chairman mizanur rahman choudhury while founder, former president ershad, served out prison sentence on corruption charges. electorate approved still more changes constitution, formally re-creating parliamentary system , returning governing power office of prime minister, in bangladesh s original 1972 constitution. in october 1991, members of parliament elected new head of state, president abdur rahman biswas.

in march 1994, controversy on parliamentary by-election, opposition claimed government had rigged, led indefinite boycott of parliament entire opposition. opposition began program of repeated general strikes press demand khaleda zia s government resign , caretaker government supervise general election. efforts mediate dispute, under auspices of commonwealth secretariat, failed. after attempt @ negotiated settlement failed narrowly in late december 1994, opposition resigned en masse parliament. opposition continued campaign of marches, demonstrations, , strikes in effort force government resign. opposition, including awami league s sheikh hasina, pledged boycott national elections scheduled 15 february 1996.

in february, khaleda zia re-elected landslide in voting boycotted , denounced unfair 3 main opposition parties. in march 1996, following escalating political turmoil, sitting parliament enacted constitutional amendment allow neutral caretaker government assume power , conduct new parliamentary elections; former chief justice mohammed habibur rahman named chief adviser (a position equivalent prime minister) in interim government. new parliamentary elections held in june 1996 , awami league won plurality , formed government support jatiya party led deposed president ershad; party leader sheikh hasina became prime minister.