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Shariful Haque Dalim

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Lieutenant Colonel
Shariful Haque Dalim
শরিফুল হক ডালিম
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya
In office
1988–1995
President
Prime Minister
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Hong Kong
In office
1982–1988
President
Prime Minister
Personal details
Born (1946-02-02) 2 February 1946 (age 79)[1]
Dacca, Bengal, British India[1]
Nationality
Spouse
Nimmi Chowdhury
​
(died 2005)​
Children1
Parent
Known for15 August 1975 coup d'état
Awards Bir Uttom[2]
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Bangladesh Bangladesh
Branch/service Pakistan Air Force
 Pakistan Army
 Bangladesh Army
Years of service1967–1976
Rank Lieutenant colonel
UnitArmoured Corps
Commands
  • Company Commander of Bengal Lancers
  • Sub-Commander of Sector - I
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
Bangladesh Liberation War
15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état
UNOSOM I

Shariful Haque Dalim (Bengali: শরিফুল হক ডালিম; born 2 February 1946)[3] popularly known as Major Dalim, is a retired army officer of Bangladesh Army and a diplomat.[4] He was convicted for his part in the 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état.[5][6]

Early life and education

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Dalim was born in Dacca at Bengal Presidency of British India to Shamsul Haque a textile businessman and former member of parliament for Dhaka-11 in the Ziaur Rahman ministry. After finishing high school, Dalim enlisted to Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur of then West Pakistan on 1964. His training was halted soon after the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. After war, Dalim was instead sent back to Pakistan Military Academy to complete his military training. He was then again commissioned with the Armoured Corps in 1967 in the rank of second lieutenant.[citation needed]

Military career

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Bangladesh Liberation War

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On 1971, Dalim was in West Pakistan and opted to enter India to join the Mukti Bahini in Bangladesh Liberation War. After his defection he served as the Aide-de-camp to commander of Z Force lieutenant colonel Ziaur Rahman. In acknowledgment of his role and contributions, he was awarded the title of Bir Uttom and was promoted to the rank of major.[7]

After the independence of Bangladesh however, Dalim while serving as squadron commander for the Bengal Lancers was dismissed due to breach of discipline in 1974.[8]

15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état

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Main articles: 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état and Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Dalim, along with a few other officers of the army including major Syed Faruque Rahman and major Khandaker Abdur Rashid, planned a coup which took place on 15 August 1975. He was asked to lead the attack on Dhanmondi 32 but he refused to do so. He was then given charge of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment proxying major Rashid. As the coup was taking place, Dalim took control of Bangladesh Betar Radio station and made an announcement stating,

I am Major Dalim speaking; autocrat Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been killed. The army led by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad has taken over power. Curfew has been declared.[9]

During the speech, he also unofficially announced the proclamation of an Islamic Republic. However, this would later be ignored.[10]

After the coup, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad succeeded him as the president. The new president declared martial law and passed the 1975 Indemnity Act which provided legal protection to those involved in the coup.[11][12][13] After the killing of then president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975, he was reinstated in Bangladesh Army and promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in the Armed Forces Division for a brief time.

3 November 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état

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During the initial stages of Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf's coup, Dalim and Lt. Colonel Noor went over to the cantonment to surrender.[10] They also negotiated with President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed on behalf of General Musharraf and Dalim personally tried to convince retired General Osmani and Lt. Colonel Rashid to surrender. Eventually, he convinced General Musharraf and Colonel Shafaat Jamil to accept a deal wherein all 17 men who planned Mujib's assassination, including Dalim, would go into exile.[10]

Diplomatic Career

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In 1976, he was sent as a diplomat to China after being assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dalim voluntarily retires from army the same year for enlisting with the foreign affairs ministry.[3] On 1980, he joined the London High Commission under orchestration of high commissioner Fakhruddin Ahmed.[14] In 1982, he served as high commissioner for Hong Kong and then ambassador for Kenya six years later.[3][15] At the same time he was given charge of Tanzania and also permanent representative of Bangladesh to UNEP and HABITAT.[3] He also held the special responsibility of overall supervision of the army personnel to be sent as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the war in Somalia. He retired from government service in 1995.[3]

Sentencing and Exile

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In 1996, the Awami League government, led by Mujib's daughter Sheikh Hasina began prosecution process for the case. Dalim was again demoted and listed as dismissed by contrast to retirement from the army. He was sentenced to death in absentia.[16] According to some reports, he lives in Pakistan on a Kenyan passport and has business interests in Africa.[17]

Public appearance

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Shariful Haque Dalim had been in hiding for an extended period due to his controversial role in Bangladesh's political history, particularly his involvement in the 1975 military coup that resulted in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Convicted in absentia for his role in the coup, he faced legal and political challenges during Sheikh Hasina's rule, which made his return to public life difficult.[18][19]

Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime and the political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2024, Dalim resurfaced publicly on 5 January 2025, in a live interview on the YouTube channel of expatriate journalist Elias Hossain. In the interview, Dalim spoke about his life in hiding, contemporary political issues, and his perspective on his role in shaping Bangladeshi history.[20]

Personal life

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Dalim was married to Nimmi Chowdhury until her death in 2005[1] and has one daughter.[3] His younger brother is Kamrul Haque Swapan and younger sister is Mohua Haque.[21]

Bibliography

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  • Dalim, Shariful Haque (2001). Ja Dekhechi Ja Bujhechi Ja Korechi (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Dhaka.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)[22]
  • Dalim, Shariful Haque (2002). Ami Major Dalim Bolchi (1st ed.). Dhaka: Bornolipi Prokashoni.[22]
  • Kichu Kotha Kichu Betha (15 February 2002)
  • Zia Theke Khaleda Otopor (February 2025)

References

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  1. ^ a b c "SHARIFUL HAQUE, DALIM". cbi.gov.in. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh Gazette of 15 December, 1973; Ministry of Liberation War Affairs". Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Life sketch - AMBASSADOR LT. COL. (RETD) SHARIFUL HAQ DALIM BU". Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  4. ^ Salil Tripathi (19 November 2014). "Of course, we killed him ... he had to go". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Sheik Mujib Gets Total Authority Over Bangladesh". The New York Times. 26 January 1975. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  6. ^ Maniruzzaman, Talukder (1975). "Bangladesh: An Unfinished Revolution?". The Journal of Asian Studies. 34 (4). Cambridge University Press: 891–911. doi:10.2307/2054506. ISSN 0021-9118. JSTOR 2054506. S2CID 154434833. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. ^ Ekattorer Birjoddha, Khetab Pawa Muktijoddhader Birtogatha (Second Volume). Prothoma Prokashon. March 2013. p. 62. ISBN 9789849025375.
  8. ^ Sarkar, Ashutosh (19 November 2009). "Farooq's confession". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Dalim goes on air". The Daily Star. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Mascarenhas, Anthony (1986). Bangladesh: a legacy of blood. London: Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 978-0-340-39420-5.
  11. ^ "Shame darker than the night". The Daily Star. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  12. ^ Dalim, Shariful Haq (1 November 2011). Bangladesh, Untold Facts. Jumhoori Publications. ISBN 978-9699739408.
  13. ^ "Shahriar's confession". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  14. ^ Ali, Syed Muazzem (2 November 2005). "Fakhruddin Ahmed: Some recollections". The Daily Star. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Former Consuls General". Consulate General of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Hong Kong. Retrieved 31 July 2021.[permanent dead link] New govt site
  16. ^ "'Col Jamil involved, Khaled Mosharraf key plotter'". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  17. ^ "Where are they?". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016. Dalim lives in Pakistan and often travels to Libya, in particular Benghazi... Wali-ur Rehman said Dalim has business in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and some other African countries. He even has managed a Kenyan passport.
  18. ^ ইলিয়াসের লাইভ টকশোতে ১৫ই আগস্ট সম্পর্কে যা বললেন মেজর ডালিম বীর বিক্রম. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  19. ^ লাইভ সাক্ষাৎকারে মেজর ডালিম কী বললেন?. Janakantha. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  20. ^ ৫০ বছরের সব প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিলেন, বীর মুক্তিযোদ্ধা মেজর ডালিম (বীর উত্তম) #eliashossain #মেজর_ডালিম (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "Col Rashid's daughter held for blast link". The Daily Star. 24 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Banned books that have made a comeback". The Business Standard. 13 September 2024. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024.
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