DHAKA: Former military ruler HM Ershad Sunday said he withdrew Martial Law in 1986 and introduced democracy in the country.

His comment came from a joint meeting of his Jatiya Party and its front organisations at city`s Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium.

The former army chief had seized power from the BNP government in March 1982 and then became President of a semi-civilian government through the mid-80’s transition. He stepped down from the presidency amid a mass movement in December 1990.             

Criticising the change of the upazila system he had introduced, Ershad said if the upazila system had been continued, all the upazilas in the country would developed into satellite towns.          

“Dhaka would be an abandoned city soon. If the upazila system had been there, the pressure on Dhaka would have been reduced," Ershad said.

ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, secretary-general of the party, also spoke at the meeting.

BDST: 1515 HRS, AUGUST 22, 2010