Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq

General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq (Bengali:আবু বেলাল মুহাম্মদ শফিউল হক ; born December 1958), is a four-star rank army general and the current (17th) Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, in office since 25 June 2015. Huq most recently served as the Principal Staff Officer, Prime Minister’s Office, Armed Forces Division. He has also served as an Aide-de-Camp to the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Huq is the recipient of Sword of Honour. General Huq was commissioned in the Armoured Corps of the Bangladesh Army in June 1978.

Early life
Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq was born on December 1958 in Brahmanbaria. Belal 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. His brother Annisul Huq was elected Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation in April 2015. He is married and has two children, son and a daughter.

Military career
Huq received formal education from Dhaka University and afterward attended Bangladesh Military Academy. After graduation, he was commissioned in Armoured Corps on 18 June 1978. He was adjudged as the best all round cadet of his batch and was awarded with Sword of Honour. In a distinguished career spanning almost 37 years, Huq has hold a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. As a staff he served as the ADC to the President of Bangladesh, Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Chief of Staff of an Infantry Division. He commanded two Armour Units, three Brigades and two Divisions. He also served as Military Secretary and Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army.

UN Missions
From 1988 to 1989, 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 on 4 January 2007.