DACCA, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh's new martial law regime canceled a celebration of the nation's 11th anniversary of independence Friday and announced the arrest of more than 200 people as part of its anti-corruption drive.
The country's chief martial law administrator Friday named Abul Fazal Muhammad Ahsanuddin Chowdhury, a retired Supreme Court judge, as the nation's new president.
A martial law decree issued by Lt. Gen. Hossain Mohammed Ershad, the coup leader, said the new president would be sworn in Saturday, the Press Trust of India reported from Dacca.
In earlier decrees, Ershad has made it clear any civilians in the new government will be subject to orders of the martial law regime until new elections can be held. The government also declared restrictions on travel abroad and meetings by public officials without prior permission and reported the release of 277 people imprisoned by the government of President Adbus Sattar overthrown in Wednesday's bloodless pre-dawn coup.
In the first official word of mass arrests following the takeover, the government said 215 people have been arrested, including three cabinet ministers and three lower officials.
All 215 face charges of corruption, misuse of power and anti-state activity, which carry penalties ranging from 14 years of hard labor to death.
It was not known when the martial law courts would begin processing the cases.
Lt. Gen. Hossain Ershad, who led the coup, said Thursday the military had 'no alternative' but to step in and solve the national crisis caused by corruption and criminals.
The authorities also said they are hunting for three cabinet ministers who reportedly fled their homes during the coup.
The three ministers placed under arrest were identified as State Commerce Minister Tanvir Ahmed Chodurry, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman and Labor and Social Welfare Minister Atauddin Khan.
Ershad, 56, cancelled the military parade planned by Sattar, and the nation's 90 million people quietly observed Independence Day and the third day of martial law government.
Most shops and businesses remained closed and city streets were quiet. With police bearing most of the security workload, soldiers could be seen only at major buildings and installations.
The coup ended a bitter debate between the military and Sattar's ruling Bangladesh National Party over the armed forces' role in running the government.
Sattar was elected president in November. He served as interim president following the assassination last May of President Ziaur Rahman.
The military regime is Bangladesh's fifth government since it gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.
