FROM DHAKA CANTONMENT: Bangladesh Army gave a ceremonial guard of honor to newly appointed Army chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq at the cantonment in city on Sunday.
The event took place at 9:45am in the day.
Later, he planted a sapling at Senakunja lawn.
A special prayer was also offered seeking long and healthy life of the new chief as well as the welfare of Bangladesh Army. Hafez Mawlana Mohammad Sirajul Haque of Army headquarters conducted the prayer.
Earlier at 9:30am, the Army chief placed floral wreath at Shikha Anirban to pay tribute to the martyrs of the country’s war of independence in 1971.
General Belal took over as the chief of Army staff from outgoing chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan on June 25.
Air Force chief Air Marshal Abu Esrar and Navy chief Vice Admiral M Farid Habib decorated the new Army chief Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq with the rank badge of General in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the day.
Moreover, general Belal, ndc, psc took over the responsibility of Principal Staff Officer, Prime Minister’s Office, Armed Forces Division on January 1 in 2013. Prior to assuming this position he had been serving as Commandant, Defence Services Command and Staff College.
Born in December 1958, Shafiul was commissioned in Armoured Corps on 18 June 1978 from Bangladesh Military Academy.
For his outstanding performance in the Military Academy, he was adjudged as the best all round cadet of his batch and was awarded with ‘Sword of Honour’.
Shafiul obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dhaka University and Master Degree on ‘Defense Studies’ from National University Bangladesh and Masters in Philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Presently he is doing PhD on Regional Connectivity under the same university.
His military education includes a variety of training courses, both at home and abroad on strategic studies, tactics, military science, weapon systems, UN Staff Procedure etc.
He is a graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Bangladesh and also Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavanworth, Kansas, USA.
He attended National Defence Course and Capstone Course at NDC, Bangladesh.
Shafiul was a member of the pioneer Group of Officers sent to UN Peace Keeping Mission from Bangladesh.
BDST: 1402 HRS, JUN 28, 2015
RR/SMS
