Belal Shafiul Haque

Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque ndc, psc (Bengali: আবু বেলাল মোঃ শফিউল হক; born 1 December 1958) is a retired four star general of the Bangladesh Army. He was the chief of army staff of the Bangladesh Army from 25 June 2015 to 25 June 2018.^[1] Before becoming the army head, he served as the principal staff officer of Prime Minister's Office of the Armed Forces Division.^[2] He has also served as an aide-de-camp to the President of Bangladesh.^[3] He was commissioned into the armoured corps of the Bangladesh Army from 6th SSC (Short Service Commission) course in June 1978.^[4]

General (Retd.) Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque ndc, psc
আবু বেলাল মোঃ শফিউল হক
Huq in 2017
15th Chief of Army Staff
In office 25 June 2015 – 25 June 2018
President	Abdul Hamid
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan
Succeeded by	Aziz Ahmed
12th Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division
In office 1 January 2013 – 24 June 2015
President	Zillur Rahman Abdul Hamid
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Abdul Wadud
Succeeded by	Mainul Islam
Personal details
Born	(1958-12-01) 1 December 1958 (age 65) Noakhali, East Pakistan, Pakistan
Relations	Annisul Haque (brother)
Alma mater	University of Dhaka BNU BUP BMA USACGSC
Awards	Sword of Honour (BMA) Oshamanno Sheba Padak (OSP) Independence Day Award
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Branch/service	Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1978 – 2018
Rank	General
Unit	Armoured Corps
Commands	Commander of 93rd Armoured Brigade Commander of 309th Infantry Brigade Commander of 222nd Infantry Brigade GOC of 33rd Infantry Division GOC of 19th Infantry Division Commandant of Defence Services Command and Staff College PSO of Armed Forces Division 16th Chief of Army Staff
Battles/wars	UNIIMOG UNMEE

Early life

Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque was born on 1 December 1958 in Noakhali, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).^[5] He passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from Dinajpur Zilla School. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dhaka University, master's degree in defense studies from National University Bangladesh, and master's degree in philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals. His brother Annisul Huq was elected Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation in April 2015.^[6]

Military career

Then Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General Haque in forum with U.S. Pacific Commander, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear.

Haque joined Bangladesh Military Academy on 22 July, 1977. After completion of training, he was commissioned in Bengal Lancers on 18 June 1978 in the 6th SSC (Short Service Commission) course. He was adjudged as the best all-round cadet of his batch and was awarded Sword of Honor (an award given to the best meritorious cadet in Bangladeshi military forces). In a distinguished career spanning 40 years, Shafiul Huq has held a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. As a staff, he served as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the president of Bangladesh, brigade major (BM) of an infantry brigade and colonel staff of an infantry division. He commanded two tank units, three brigades (one armored and two infantry) and two divisions (19th and 33rd). He also served as military secretary and adjutant general of the army.^[7]

UN missions

From 1988 to 1989, Shafiul Haque served as a military observer with the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). He was appointed deputy force commander and chief military observer of UNMEE on 4 January 2007.

Personal life

Haque is married to Shoma Haque. They have 2 children.^[8] Anisul Haque, the first mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation is his elder brother.^[9] His father Shariful Haque was the former director of Bangladesh Ansar and took retirement in 1982.

Retirement

He retired from the army with effect from 25 June 2018.^[1]

Honours

Uttoron Padak Medal	Independence Day Award Medal	Cyclone Relief of 1991 Medal	1991 National Election Medal
1996 National Election Medal	2001 National Election Medal	Silver Jubilee Medal	27 years service
20 years service	10 years service	UNIIMOG Medal	UNMEE Medal

References

1. "Lt Gen Aziz Ahmed takes charge as Army chief". The Independent (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
2. "Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq made army chief". New Age (Bangladesh). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
3. "Lieutenant General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, ndc, psc". Armed Forces Division. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
4. "Brigadier General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq". United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
5. "Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017.
6. "Lt Gen Abu Belal Shafiul Huq new army chief". Retrieved 23 June 2015.
7. "Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, ndc, psc". Armed Forces Division. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
8. "Lt Gen Belal new Army Chief". The New Nation. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
9. "Mayor Annisul Huq loses battle, dies in London hospital". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan	Chief of Army Staff 25 June 2015 – 25 June 2018	Succeeded by Aziz Ahmed
Preceded by Abdul Wadud	Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division 1 January 2013 – 24 June 2015	Succeeded by Md Mainul Islam