Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haq (born 1 December 1958) is a retired Bangladesh army general and the

chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...

of the

Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities to deliver the Bangladeshi government's security and def ...

, in office from 25 June 2015 to 25 June 2018. Before his tenure as chief of staff he served as the

principal staff officer Principal may refer to: Title or rank * Principal (academia), the chief executive of a university ** Principal (education), the office holder/ or boss in any school * Principal (civil service) or principal officer, the senior management level i ...

of Prime Minister's Office of the

Armed Forces Division The Armed Forces Division (AFD) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ সশস্ত্র বাহিনী বিভাগ — ) is the principal national command authority for national defense of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The command an ...

. He has also served as an aide-de-camp to the

president of Bangladesh The president of Bangladesh ( bn, বাংলাদেশের রাষ্ট্রপতি — ) officially the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশে ...

. He was commissioned into the Armoured corps of the Bangladesh Army from 6th SSC (Short Service Commission) in June 1978. He was a paratrooper.

Early life

Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq was born on 1 December 1958 in

Noakhali Noakhali ( bn, নোয়াখালী, , New canal), historically known as Bhulua ( bn, ভুলুয়া), is a district in southeastern Bangladesh, located in the Chittagong Division. It was established as district in 1821, and officia ...

, Bangladesh. He passed

Secondary School Certificate The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC), Matriculation examination, is a public examination in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan conducted by educational boards for the successful completion of the seco ...

(SSC) from

Dinajpur Zilla School Dinajpur Zilla School is a public high school in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh. About 2000 students study here from classes 3 to 10. The school's current headmistress is Mrs. Akthara Parvin. It is one of the ancient schools in Bangladesh. Histo ...

in 1972. Belal obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from

Dhaka University The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...

and master's degree on ‘Defense Studies’ from National University Bangladesh and master's degree in philosophy from

Bangladesh University of Professionals Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) is the 31st public university of Bangladesh (according to University Grants Commission of Bangladesh), located in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. It is the first public university of Bangladesh to be run by ...

. His brother

Annisul Huq Annisul Huq (27 September 1952 – 30 November 2017) was a Bangladeshi Entrepreneur, television show host and the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation. Early life and education He was born on 27 September 1952, Sonapur at Sonagazi in No ...

was elected Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation in April 2015.

Military career

ABM Huq received formal education from Dhaka University and afterward joined

Bangladesh Military Academy Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) is the officers training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh, about 13 kilometres ...

on 22 July, 1977. After completion of training, he was commissioned in Bengal Cavalry on 18 June 1978 from 6th SSC (Short Service Commission). 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, Huq has held a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. As a staff, he served as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the

, 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 An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer. France In Revolutionary France, the was a senior staff officer, effectively an assistant to a general officer. It was a special position for lieutenant-colonels and colonels in staf ...

of the army.

UN missions

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

UNMEE The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was established by the United Nations Security Council in July 2000 to monitor a ceasefire in the border war that began in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. First military troops Nethe ...

on 4 January 2007.

Personal life

Huq is married to Shoma Huq. They have a son named Marzuq, and a daughter.

Anisul Huq Anisul Huq or Anisul Hoque ( ar, انیس الحق) meaning "friend of the truth", is a Muslim male given name. Notable people with the name include: *Anisul Haque Chowdhury (Rangpur politician) (died 2011), Bangladesh Awami League Member of Parli ...

, the first mayor of

Dhaka North City Corporation Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) or Dhaka Uttar City Corporation was created as an autonomous body that governs 54 northern wards of Dhaka to better manage local services, but has since added new areas. It is one of two municipal corporations ...

is his elder brother. His father Shariful Huq was the former director of Bangladesh Ansar and took retirement in 1982.

Retirement

Belal retired from the army with effect from 25 June 2018.

Honours

References

External links

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Shafiul Huq, Abu Belal 1958 births Living people Chiefs of Army Staff, Bangladesh Bangladesh Army generals Bangladesh University of Professionals alumni University of Dhaka alumni People from Noakhali District United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Principal Staff Officers (Bangladesh)