Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque

General
Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque
OSP
বেলাল মোহম্মদ শফিউল হক
Haque in 2017
15th Chief of Army Staff
In office
25 June 2015 – 25 June 2018
PresidentAbdul Hamid
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byIqbal Karim Bhuiyan
Succeeded byAziz Ahmed
Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division
In office
1 January 2013 – 24 June 2015
President
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byAbdul Wadud
Succeeded byMainul Islam
Personal details
Born (1958-12-01) 1 December 1958
Sonapur, Noakhali, East Pakistan, Pakistan
RelationsAnnisul Haque (brother)
Alma materBangladesh Military Academy
National University, Bangladesh
Bangladesh University of Professionals
United States Army Command and General Staff College
AwardsSword of Honour (BMA)
Oshamanno Sheba Padak (OSP)
Independence Day Award
Military service
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch/service Bangladesh Army
Years of service1978 – 2018
Rank General
UnitArmoured Corps
Commands
Battles/warsUNIIMOG
UNMEE

Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque [a][b] (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]

Early life

Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque was born on 1 December 1958 to a Bengali Muslim family in the village of Sonapur in Sonagazi, Feni, then part of the Noakhali district of East Pakistan.[5] His father, Sharif Haque, was an official belonging to the Bangladesh Ansar.[6] 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.[7]

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).

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina awarding the batch of Oshammano Sheha Padak (OSP) to General Haque on 2016

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.[8]

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.

Army Chief (2015-2018)

Haque adorning the rank of General at Prime Minister's Office in 2015

In June 2015, he was made the new army chief, taking over from General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan.[9] As army chief, he sought to increase defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other Middle-Eastern states.[10] He also called on the Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari as part of a five-day visit to enhance cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal.[11]

In his farewell call to PM Hasina, she expressed her appreciation to General Belal for discharging his duties successfully during his tenure.[12] Afterwards, he was succeeded by General Aziz Ahmed.[13]

Personal life

Haque is married to Shoma Haque. They have 2 children.[14] Anisul Haque, the first mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation is his elder brother.[15] 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

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bengali: আবু বেলাল মোহম্মদ শফিউল হক
  2. ^ OSP, ndc, psc

Citations

  1. ^ a b "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). Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Lieutenant General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, ndc, psc". Armed Forces Division. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. 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. ^ "Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq no more". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Lt Gen Abu Belal Shafiul Huq new army chief". Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, ndc, psc". Armed Forces Division. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  9. ^ Report, Star Online (2015-06-10). "Gen Belal new army chief". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh Army chief hopes to increase Saudi-Bangladesh military cooperation". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  11. ^ "Bangladesh army chief meets Nepal president". daily-sun. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  12. ^ "Outgoing Army chief meets PM Hasina". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  13. ^ BSS, Dhaka (2018-06-18). "Aziz Ahmed made new Army Chief". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  14. ^ "Lt Gen Belal new Army Chief". The New Nation. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Mayor Annisul Huq loses battle, dies in London hospital". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
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