NEW DELHI

Bangladesh came under martial law yesterday for the third time since independence 11 years ago when the army chief, Lt-Gen Hossain Mohammad Ershad, seized power in a bloodless coup.

He announced on radio and television that he had taken over because of corruption in public life and the fight for power by members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The military regime has suspended the Bangladesh Constitution, but all existing laws will remain in force subject to amendment by the martial law authorities.

The coup evidently had the consent of the ousted President, Mr Abdus Sattar, who defended it in a radio broadcast just before General Ershad spoke.

Mr Sattar said that martial law would mean a new era in Bangladesh. He said that law and order, and the political and economic situation, had reached a stage where martial law had become indispensable. But reports from Dacca said that the entire Cabinet and many political leaders had been arrested. President Sattar is reported to be under house arrest while the Prime Minister, Mr Shah Azizur Rahman, has been taken to an unknown address.

All political activities, processions, strikes and public meetings have been banned and a curfew imposed in Dacca. Although troops were patrolling the streets of the main towns, passengers arriving in Calcutta from Dacca said that there was complete calm.

In his broadcast, General Ershad said that he would nominate a non-military person as President who would hold office at the pleasure of the chief martial law administrator. He said he would also appoint an advisory council to run the administration.

He said that the army was forced to take over to save the country from social, economic, and political bankruptcy. "Our ultimate aim is to re-establish democracy and hold elections as soon as possible."

Bangladesh was threatened by a grave economic crisis and food shortages, and that a power struggle in the ruling nationalist party had caused the people to lose faith in the?Government.

Many people had asked him to take over power after the assassination of President Zia, the general said. "We desisted in the hope that the democratic system would be able to solve the nation's problems. But this has failed."

Members of the Indian Parliament yesterday expressed concern at the situation in Bangladesh.

Ajoy Bose