Lauding India for its role in the formation of Bangladesh, the chief of the Army staff, Bangladesh National Army, General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq said that India has been playing a significant role in maintaining peace in the Indian sub-continent. Besides, India is contributing to world peace through its peacekeeping role under the aegis of the United Nations, he said.
He was the reviewing officer of the Passing out Parade held at Indian Military Academy in Dehradun on Saturday. “It is a privilege for me to attend as chief guest of IMA POP in India. Bangladesh is having good relation with India. Bangladesh is not only sharing boundary with India but also the culture and tradition of the two countries are almost the same,” he said.
General Belal, born in December 1, 1958, was commissioned on June 18, 1978 in Armoured Corps. He was adjudged as the best all -round cadet of his batch and was awarded with ‘sword of honour’. He obtained Bachelor of Arts degree from Dhaka University, master degree on Defence Studies from National University of Bangladesh and Masters in Philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
He took over the command of Bangladesh Army as Chief of Army staff on June 25, 2015. Presently, the General is doing PhD on regional connectivity under Bangladesh University of Professionals. Besides, General Belal was a member of the pioneer group of officers sent to UN peace keeping mission from Bangladesh. He was an observer in United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) in 1988-1989 and deputy force commander of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in 2007-2008.
While hailing IMA for maintaining its reputation for years, he showered praise on the instructors for their role in chiselling out dedicated Gentleman Cadets out of the youngsters. It is edifying for all to see the sense of duty, loyalty and service to the nation being ingrained in the GCs by the staff members of the IMA, he said.
Earlier, SK Jha, commandant Lieutenant General, Indian Military Academy , had said that the decision to make General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq has been taken in step with Government of India’s policy to better ties with the neighbouring counties.
“India's Look East policy is meant to cultivate extensive relations with these nations. Bangladesh is an important neighbour of India and we have very good relation with the country,” he had said.
He had further cited the fact that chiefs of the armies of several SAARC nations were present in the past at the Indian Military Academy’s passing- out parades as reviewing officers in the past.
“Chiefs of the armies in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal were present as reviewing officers. We are happy that this time, the chief of the Bangladesh National Army is coming to grace the passing- out parade. It would definitely impact positively on the bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh aside from conveying the message to the other SAARC nations of India’s unflagging commitment to better ties with all of them,” Jha had said.
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