General Waker-Uz-Zaman[a] OSP SGP psc (born 16 September 1966) is a four star general of the Bangladesh Army who is the current Chief of Army Staff (CAS)[2] of the Bangladesh Army since 23 June 2024.[3][4][5] Prior to his appointment as CAS, he served as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army.[6][7][8] He is also the Colonel Commandant of Army Service Corps. Previously, he served as the 15th Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division.[9][10]
Just over a month after he became the Bangladesh Army chief, amid the Student–People's uprising, he announced the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister on 5 August 2024.[11][12]
Early life and education
editWaker-uz-Zaman was born into a highly-educated and wealthy Bengali Muslim family on 16 September 1966 in Dhaka during East Pakistan, his family was originally from Sherpur in Mymensingh Division. His father was Asad-uz-Zaman, a well-known district judge. Waker-uz-Zaman's paternal grandfather was Fazlur Rahman of Sherpur, Fazlur Rahman was given the prestigious title of Khan Bahadur by the erstwhile ruling British for his services to the nation. Waker-uz-Zaman's maternal grandfather Sadiq Khan was also honored with the title of Khan Bahadur.[13][14]
He graduated from Defence Services Command and Staff College. He studied at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom.[15] He holds a master's degree in defence studies from Bangladesh and a Master of Arts in defence studies from King's College, University of London.[16][17]
Military Career
editWaker was commissioned on 20 December 1985 from Bangladesh Military Academy's 13th Long Course in the East Bengal Regiment.[15]
During his long military career, he taught at the Non-Commissioned Officer's Academy (NCOA), School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T) and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT). He served in the United Nations Mission in Liberia and United Nations Angola Verification Mission I. As lieutenant colonel, he directed Army Security Unit, Dhaka Cantonment and commanded the 17th East Bengal Regiment at Momenshahi.[15] He was promoted to colonel and served as Deputy Assistant Military Secretary in Military Secretary's Branch at Army Headquarters. He was then upgraded to brigadier general and appointed as commander of 46th Independent Infantry Brigade in Dhaka and then as Deputy Military Secretary at Army Headquarters. Waker was promoted to major general in 2013 and posted as military secretary at the headquarters.[15]
After that, he was appointed at 9th Infantry Division as GOC and Area Commander of Savar Area which he served until returning back to the headquarters, again as military secretary in 2017.[18] On 30 November 2020, Waker was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division.[19] He served as the chairperson of Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention.[20] He was a member of the governing body of the National Defence College.[21]
He was appointed as Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Bangladesh Army on 29 December 2023.[22] General Waker is also worked as the acting chairman of the Central Coordination Committee of Cantonment Public Schools and Colleges. On 11 June 2024, Government of Bangladesh appointed him as the next chief of army staff.[23]
Interim government formation and support
editOn 5 August 2024, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and self-imposed exile from Bangladesh amidst the Student-People's uprising, Waker announced his intention to form an interim government with the support of the political parties and the protesters, promising that the military would investigate violence against protesters and hand over power. Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus were sworn in on the night of 8 August, three days after the Fifth Hasina cabinet was dissolved following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.[24] Zaman oversaw the oath-taking ceremony of Yunus in presence of political leaders, civil society leaders, generals and diplomats. Yunus was declared head of the interim government of Bangladesh, but other attendees that were sworn in to act as Yunus' interim cabinet members were referred to as "advisers" rather than Ministers. These new advisers included student protesters, such as, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, whom led the quota reform and the non-cooperation movement culminating in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina.[25]
He hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for instance. However, he did not disclose their names and the possible tenure of the government.[26][27] He vowed to help and support the interim government to help it complete reforms following the constitutional crisis, and to held a general elections within 18 months.[28]
Personal life
editWaker is married to Begum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman who is the eldest daughter of late General Mustafizur Rahman and the couple have two daughters.[17] His father-in-law General Rahman served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 24 December 1997 to 23 December 2000.[29]
References
editFootnotes
Citations
- ^ "Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Named Chief Advisor Of Bangladesh Interim Government: Updates". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024.
- ^ "General Waker-Uz-Zaman takes charge as Chief of Army Staff". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). 23 June 2024. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman named new army chief". The Daily Star. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, OSP, SGP, psc, Chief of General Staff (CGS) has been promoted to general and appointed as the Chief of Army Staff
- ^ "Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman appointed new army chief". The Business Standard. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman posted to CGS in army". The Daily Star. 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman has been appointed as the 18th Chief of Army Staff". The Business Standard. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman appointed army chief". Dhaka Tribune. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
The government has appointed Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman as the new army chief of Bangladesh, effective from June 23, the Inter-Services Public Relations (Bangladesh) (ISPR) announced on Tuesday.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Wakar made PSO". New Age. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "New PSO adorned with Lt Gen rank badge". The Financial Express. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024.
- ^ Tan, Rebecca; Mehrotra, Karishma; Gupta, Anant (6 August 2024). "Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and flees country". Washington Post.
- ^ "Bangladesh Protests: Who is General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief who announced Sheikh Hasina's resignation?". Mint. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "A proud aunt's reflections: Memories of my nephew General Waker-uz-Zaman, new Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff". AMUST. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "A Proud Aunt's Reflections: Memories Of My Nephew, General Waker-uz-Zaman - Suprovat Sydney". 1 July 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "General Waqar-uz-Zaman promoted, made PSO at Armed Forces Division". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "General Waker-Uz-Zaman takes over as Army Chief of Bangladesh". Daily Sun. 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Principal Staff Officer (PSO), AFD | Armed Forces Division(AFD)". afd.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "GOC of Ninth Infantry Division and Commander of Savar Area Major General Waqar-uz-Zaman handing over the championship trophy to Savar Area team, which emerged the champions of the Bangladesh Army Hockey Competition at the Savar Cantonment on Thursday". The New Nation. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "New PSO adorned with Lieutenant General rank badge". Dhaka Tribune. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Honorable Chairman". bnacwcafd.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "National Defence College". ndc.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- ^ "Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman appointed as new army chief". Jago News 24. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Lt General Waker-Uz-Zaman appointed as new army chief". The Business Standard. 11 June 2024.
- ^ Alam, Julhas; Pathi, Krutika (5 August 2024). "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and leaves Bangladesh, ending 15-year rule". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of Bangladesh's interim government". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Who will run Bangladesh's interim govt? I'm taking full responsibility, says army chief". Firstpost. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh Protests: Who is General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief who announced Sheikh Hasina's resignation?". Mint. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: Bangladesh army chief strongly backs interim government, eyes elections within 18 months". Reuters. 24 September 2024.
- ^ "List of Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024.
