Today is the 88th birthday of Jatiya Party Chairman of Hussain Muhammad Ershad who served as the 10th President of Bangladesh. He seized power as head of the army during a bloodless coup against President Abdus Sattar in 24 April 1982 (by imposing martial law). Ershad served in office until 1990, when he was forced to resign during a popular uprising led by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Ershad achieved administrative reforms such as devolution of nationalised industries; the expansion of the national highway system; and the founding of SAARC; he committed his nation`s forces as an ally to the United States in the Gulf War. He is the founder of the Jatiya Party, currently the second-largest party in the Jatiyo Sangshad.Ershad is currently a member of parliament and the Chairman of Jatiyo Party. In 1989, Ershad pushed parliament to make Islam the state religion, in a sharp departure from Bangladesh`s original secular constitution.Ershad has twice been honoured as a United Nations Laureate, for contributions on population and environmental issues. He was awarded "Lifetime Achievement on Universal Courage and Heroism" at We Care for Humanity`s 3rd Global Officials of Dignity Awards which was held at UN Millennium Hotel in August 2015.