DHAKA, Nov. 10, Reuter: Bangladesh’s nearly four and a half years of military rule ended today when President Hussain Mohammad Ershad lifted martial law and said he was returning the country to democracy.

A proclamation signed by Ershad said he was renouncing his title as Chief Martial Law Administrator and restoring the constitution he suspended soon after seizing power in a military coup in 1982.

The proclamation came only an hour after parliament, in a brief but dramatic session, passed a law protecting the President against prosecution ‘for his role during military rule.

The Constitutional amendment Jaw was approved without opposition by a vote of 2230 in the 330Member House despite a boycott by more than 100 opposition parliamentarians.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 14, 1986