were set up, resulting in at least 200 soldiers of the army and air force being executed, earning him a reputation of being "strict" and "ruthless" amongst international observers. He was assassinated in an attempted coup in Chittagong on 30 May 1981.

Ziaur Rahman left a divided opinion on his legacy in Bangladeshi politics. He is credited with ending the disorder of the final years of Sheikh Mujib's rule and establishing democracy by abolishing