# Shariful Haque Dalim

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

## Career

Dalim had joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1964 and changed his job to Pakistan Army in 1965. When the Bangladesh War of Independence started, he joined the Mukti Bahini. In 1974, he was stationed with the Bengal Lancers. Due to accusation of breach of discipline, he lost his commission in 1974. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975, he was re-employed in the Bangladesh Army and promoted to the rank of Lt. colonel. In 1976, he was sent as a diplomat to the People's Republic of China after being assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1980 he joined the London High Commission under orchestration of high commissioner Fakhruddin Ahmed. In 1982, he took charge of Hong Kong as a commissioner. Served as ambassador to Kenya in 1988. At the same time he was given charge of Tanzania. He also served as Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UNEP and HABITAT. He also held the special responsibility of overall supervision of Bangladesh Army personnel sent as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the war in Somalia. He retired from government service in 1995.

## Participation in the Bangladesh Liberation War

At the beginning of the Independence War of Bangladesh in 1971, Shariful Haque Dalim was in West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan). On 20 April 1971, he escaped and entered India and then joined the efforts with the Mukti Bahini in the war. In acknowledgment of his role and contributions, he was awarded the title of Bir Uttom, one of the highest military honors in Bangladesh.

## Role in 15 August 1975 Bangladeshi coup d'état

Dalim, along with a few other officers of Bangladesh Army including Major Syed Faruque Rahman and Khandaker Abdur Rashid, planned a coup which took place on 15 August 1975. He was major ranked officer during the assassination. He was asked to lead the attack on the house of President 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 stating,
   "I am Major Dalim speaking; autocrat Sheikh Mujib has been killed. The army led by Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad has taken over power. Curfew has been declared".
The coup made Mostaq Ahmad the president. The new president declared martial law and passed the 1975 Indemnity Act which provided legal protection to those involved in the coup. Dalim was reinstated in the army and promoted.
From 1 December 1982 to 6 May 1988, Dalim was the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Hong Kong.
In 1996, the Awami League government, led by Mujib's daughter Sheikh Hasina began prosecution process for the case. Dalim was demoted and dismissed from the army. He was sentenced to death in absentia. According to some reports, he lives in Pakistan on a Kenyan passport and has business interests in Africa.

## Public appearance

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.
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.

## Personal life

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