Rank Lieutenant colonel | Allegiances Pakistan, Bangladesh | |
Shariful Haque Dalim (born 1946) is a former decorated Bangladesh Liberation War veteran and ambassador of Bangladesh. He was also convicted for his part in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding father, in 1975.
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Pakistan
Dalim had joined the Pakistan army.
War
When the Bangladesh Liberation war started he was joined the Mukti Bahini.
Bangladesh
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. 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.
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. 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,". 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. He was reinstated in the army and promoted.
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. He was sentenced to death in absentia. He current has an Interpol warrant out on him.