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K. M. Shafiullah
Kazi Mohammed Safiullah, BU, psc (Bengali: কাজী মুহাম্মদ সফিউল্লাহ; 2 September 1934 – 26 January 2025) was a retired two star army officer and diplomat. He served as the 2nd Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, and a Jatiya Sangsad member for Awami League. He gained prominence for leading the S Force, a prominent brigade during the Bangladesh Liberation War that played a pivotal role in the conflict of 1971.
As the second in command of Second East Bengal Regiment, along with his battalion, Safiullah 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.[citation needed] 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.
Safiullah 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.
Safiullah was born on 2 September 1934 in Rupganj Upazila Narayanganj District. He passed his matriculation in 1950 from Murapara High School. Later he studied in Govt. Haraganga College, Munshiganj. While studying in Govt. Haraganga College he joined the Pakistan Army.
Safiullah was commissioned from 12 PMA Long Course on 18 September 1955. His initial parent unit was in 16th Punjab Regiment. He also served as a Instructor in the School of Infantry and Tactics. In 1970 he was posted to 2nd East Bengal Regiment.
Prior to Operation Searchlight, Shafiullah was the 2-in-C of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment, where he and other men of his company revolted and killed 4 West Pakistani officers and a few West Pakistani soldiers. After this, Shafiullah took all of the equipment and defected with his battalion.
After open hostilities, Shafiullah, at that time, was Sector Commander of Bangladesh Forces Sector 3. His sector was headquartered in Teliapara, Sylhet from where he commanded his troops and took part in active combats during the entire duration of the war. His sector's areas were Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet and parts of Comilla (present Brahmanbaria district).
Later three brigades were formed, each identified by the initial of the commander's surname. His formation was fully structured and formalised by the end of September. As of September 1971, Commander of Sector 3 was assigned to Major A. N. M. Nuruzzaman. Major Shafiullah was among those attending the Pakistan surrender on 16 December 1971 at Race Course in Dhaka.
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K. M. Shafiullah
Kazi Mohammed Safiullah, BU, psc (Bengali: কাজী মুহাম্মদ সফিউল্লাহ; 2 September 1934 – 26 January 2025) was a retired two star army officer and diplomat. He served as the 2nd Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army, and a Jatiya Sangsad member for Awami League. He gained prominence for leading the S Force, a prominent brigade during the Bangladesh Liberation War that played a pivotal role in the conflict of 1971.
As the second in command of Second East Bengal Regiment, along with his battalion, Safiullah 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.[citation needed] 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.
Safiullah 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.
Safiullah was born on 2 September 1934 in Rupganj Upazila Narayanganj District. He passed his matriculation in 1950 from Murapara High School. Later he studied in Govt. Haraganga College, Munshiganj. While studying in Govt. Haraganga College he joined the Pakistan Army.
Safiullah was commissioned from 12 PMA Long Course on 18 September 1955. His initial parent unit was in 16th Punjab Regiment. He also served as a Instructor in the School of Infantry and Tactics. In 1970 he was posted to 2nd East Bengal Regiment.
Prior to Operation Searchlight, Shafiullah was the 2-in-C of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment, where he and other men of his company revolted and killed 4 West Pakistani officers and a few West Pakistani soldiers. After this, Shafiullah took all of the equipment and defected with his battalion.
After open hostilities, Shafiullah, at that time, was Sector Commander of Bangladesh Forces Sector 3. His sector was headquartered in Teliapara, Sylhet from where he commanded his troops and took part in active combats during the entire duration of the war. His sector's areas were Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet and parts of Comilla (present Brahmanbaria district).
Later three brigades were formed, each identified by the initial of the commander's surname. His formation was fully structured and formalised by the end of September. As of September 1971, Commander of Sector 3 was assigned to Major A. N. M. Nuruzzaman. Major Shafiullah was among those attending the Pakistan surrender on 16 December 1971 at Race Course in Dhaka.