He is the ultimate survivor with few peers.
From a military officer in Pakistan to the chief of Bangladesh army, from the country’s military dictator deposed by a mass movement to the chief of a party holding the balance in Bangladesh’s electoral politics to the leader of the second largest party in the country’s Parliament — Hussain Muhammad Ershad has been down and out only to bounce back.
The Los Angeles-based NGO ‘We Care for Humanity’ has decided to give away a lifetime achievement award to Ershad for ‘universal courage and heroism’.
Heroism not in the field of battle but surely for political survival.
While Indonesia’s Suharto, Philippines’ Marcos and Pakistan’s Musharraf reigned over military juntas only to fall by the wayside and suffer humiliation, Ershad’s transformation from a deposed military ruler to an elected politician was unique.
The awards will be given out in New York between Aug 5 and 7 in a ceremony to be held at the UN headquarters.
Jatiya Party spokesperson Sunil Shubho Roy toldbdnews24.com that Ershad would reach New York on Aug 2 to receive the award and return home on Aug 7.
“We had heard of Ershad getting the award. Now we stand confirmed. We are involved in representing the people and upholding their interests. This award recognises that,” Roy said.
Ershad lost power as a military dictator in 1990 in a fierce popular movement, which left many dead.
He remained in prison for a few years, accused of corruption and misuse of power, but then bounced back into electoral politics.
Some of the cases against him are still pending.
Nepali-born Bollywood star Manisha Koirala, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, former Nepali president Khil Raj Regmi and India’s yoga guru Ravishankar are among those receiving awards in other categories marked out by ‘We Care For Humanity”.
But this is no UN award — as was claimed by Ershad’s Jatiya Party office-bearers.
– See more at: http://bdnews24.com/politics/2015/07/31/jatiya-party-chief-hm-ershad-to-receive-award-for-courage-at-new-york#sthash.iq2uawEG.dpuf
Source: Bd news24
