. Belal joined
Bangladesh Military Academy on 22 July 1977. After completion of training, he was commissioned in Bengal Lancers on 18 June 1978 in the 6th SSC (Short Service Commission) course. He was adjudged as the best all-round cadet of his batch and was awarded
Sword of Honor (an award given to the best meritorious cadet in Bangladeshi military forces). awarding the batch of Oshammano Sheha Padak (OSP) to General Belal on 2016 In a distinguished career spanning 40 years, Belal has held a variety of command, staff and instructional appointments. As a staff, he served as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the president of Bangladesh, brigade major (BM) of an infantry brigade and colonel staff of an infantry division. He commanded two tank units, three brigades (one armored and two infantry) and two divisions (19th and 33rd). He also served as
military secretary and
adjutant general of the army.
UN missions From 1988 to 1989, Belal served as a military observer with the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). He was appointed deputy force commander and chief military observer of
UNMEE on 4 January 2007.
Army Chief (2015-2018) at
Prime Minister's Office in 2015 In June 2015, he was made the new army chief, taking over from General
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan. As army chief, he sought to increase defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other Middle-Eastern states. He also called on the Nepali President
Bidya Devi Bhandari as part of a five-day visit to enhance cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal. In his farewell call to PM Hasina, she expressed her appreciation to General Belal for discharging his duties successfully during his tenure. Afterwards, he was succeeded by General
Aziz Ahmed. == Personal life ==