General Waker-Uz-Zaman, OSP SGP psc (Bengali: ওয়াকার-উজ-জামান) 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] 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 Non-cooperation movement protests, he announced the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister on 5 August 2024.[11][12]
Early life and education
Waker-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
Waker 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
On 5 August 2024, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's flight from Bangladesh amidst the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, Waker announced his intention to form an interim government, promising that the military would investigate violence against protesters and hand over power. Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof 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] Army chief, General 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 "advisors" rather than Ministers. These new advisors include Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, top leaders of the Students Against Discrimination group, which led the weeks-long protests that ousted Hasina.[25]
He hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for now. He, however, did not disclose their names and the possible tenure of the government.[26][27]He vowed to back the country's interim government "come what may" to help it complete key reforms after the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, so that elections could be held within the next 18 months.[28]
Personal life
Waker 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
External links
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