Shariful Haque Dalim
Shariful Haque Dalim | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1946 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1964–1971[1] |
Shariful Haque Dalim (born 1946)[1] is a former decorated Bangladesh Liberation War veteran and ambassador of Bangladesh.[2] He was also convicted for his part in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding father, in 1975.
Career
Dalim had joined the Pakistan Army. When the Bangladesh Liberation War started he joined the Mukti Bahini. In 1974, he was stationed with the Bengal Lancers. In that year while attending the wedding of his cousin, he and his wife Nimmi were kidnapped by Gazi Golam Mostafa, the president of Dhaka City unit of Awami League. He was taken to Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini headquarters.[citation needed] Some of the soldiers of the lancer unit attacked Gazi Golam Mostafa's house. Dalim applead to Sheikh Mujib for help but Mujib did not interfere in the matter. He went to England for treatment and returned to his posting in Comilla Cantonment. He lost his commission after facing accusation of breach of discipline.[3]
Assassination
He along with a few other Bangladesh army officers including Major Syed Faruque Rahman and Khandaker Abdur Rashid planned a coup which took place on 15 August 1975. He was asked to lead the attack on the house of President Sheikh Mujib but he refused to do so. He was then given charge of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment. Assassination of Sheikh Mujib took place during the course of the coup.[4] He took control of Bangladesh Betar radio station and made an announcement. He said "I am Major Dalim speaking; autocrat Sheikh Mujib has been killed. The army led by Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed has taken over power. Curfew has been declared,".[5] The coup made Khandaker Mushtaque the president. The new president declared martial law and passed the 1975 Indemnity Act which provided legal protection to those involved in the coup.[6] He was reinstated in the army and promoted.[7]
Dalim was dismissed from the army. In 1996 the Awami League government led Sheikh Hasina began prosecution process for the case. He lives in Pakistan and has a Kenyan passport. He has business interests in Africa.[8] He was sentenced to death in absentia.[9] He current has an Interpol warrant out on him.[10]
References
- ^ a b c Life sketch Official website of Major Daliimbu. Retrieved 11 November 2016
- ^ Salil Tripathi (19 November 2014). "Of course, we killed him ... he had to go". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "Shahriar's confession". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ Sarkar, Ashutosh (19 November 2009). "Farooq's confession". The Daily Star. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Dalim goes on air". The Daily Star. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Shame darker than the night". The Daily Star. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ Dalim, Shariful Haq (1 November 2011). "Bangladesh, Untold Facts". Jumhoori Publications. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Where are they?". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "'Col Jamil involved, Khaled Mosharraf key plotter'". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "6 killers still out of reach". The Daily Star. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2016.