From 1975 to 1977, he served as the "Zonal Martial Law Administrator" (the equivalent of a State Governor in the military-backed government headed by President Abu Sadat Mohammed Sayem) for Dhaka Division. He commanded two of the five independent brigades that comprised the Bangladesh Army up to the mid-1970s, and served as chief of the border forces, holding the office of Director General of Bangladesh Rifles. He was one of the three generals in the Bangladesh Army following the promulgation of martial law in 1975.