K. M. Shafiullah
Kazi Mohammed Shafiullah Bir Uttam (Bengali: কাজী মুহাম্মদ শফিউল্লাহ; born 2 September 1934), also known as K. M. Shafiullah, is a retired Bangladeshi general, former Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, and former member of parliament.
Major General K. M. Shafiullah | |
|---|---|
কাজী মুহাম্মদ শফিউল্লাহ | |
| Member of Parliament for Narayanganj-1 | |
| In office 14 July 1996 – 13 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Matin Chowdhury |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Matin Chowdhury |
| Bangladesh High Commissioner to United Kingdom | |
| In office 31 July 1987 – 3 June 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Mir Shawkat Ali |
| Succeeded by | M. M. Rezaul Karim |
| 1st Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 7 April 1972 – 25 August 1975 | |
| President | Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Mohammad Mohammadullah Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Muhammad Mansur Ali |
| Preceded by | M. A. Rab (As Chief of Staff) |
| Succeeded by | Ziaur Rahman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 2, 1934 Narayanganj, Bengal, British India |
| Awards | Bir Uttom |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Bangladesh Pakistan (before 1971) |
| Branch/service |
|
| Years of service | 1955-1975 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | Bangladesh Liberation War |
As the second in command of Second East Bengal Regiment, along with his battalion, he was the first Bengali officer to stage a rebellion on 19 March 1971 while 57 Bde Commander-Brig. Jahanzeb Arbab came to visit Joydevpur. He killed four non-Bengali officers of his own unit along with several non-Bengali soldiers hailing from then West Pakistan. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, he was the second in command of Second East Bengal Regiment that revolted with six officers on the night of 4 April 1971. He became the sector commander of Sector 3, headquartered in Teliapara, Sylhet. He directly participated in active combat and escaped certain death at least in two such combats. Towards the end of September he was appointed one of three brigade commanders, leading what was called the "S-force" (after his surname) during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Shafiullah became Chief of Army Staff in April 1972. After the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état, President Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad replaced him with Major General Ziaur Rahman.