General Waker-Uz-Zaman takes charge as army chief

General Waker-Uz-Zaman today took charge as the Chief of Army Staff.

According to a press release from ISPR, he has been appointed as the army chief for three years from June 23.

He has replaced General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed.

On January 1, 2024, Waker-Uz-Zaman assumed the duties of Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army. On June 11, He was later promoted to general from lieutenant general and appointed as army chief.

An alumnus of Bangladesh Military Academy, the general was commissioned in the Corps of Infantry on December 20, 1985.

Having an illustrious and colourful career of more than three and half decades, Lieutenant General Waker brings with him an enormous amount of experience in holding key command, staff and instructional appointments.

In his distinguished military career, Lieutenant General Waker commanded an Infantry Battalion, the only Independent Infantry Brigade of the Bangladesh Army and an Infantry Division.

His key staff appointments include staff officer at an Infantry Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics and Army Headquarters.

He was a distinguished instructor at 'The School of Infantry and Tactics', 'Non-commissioned Officers' Academy' and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training'.

Lieutenant General Waker served as the military secretary in Army Headquarters.

Before joining as the CGS of the Bangladesh Army, he performed as principal staff officer of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister's Office.

Lieutenant General Waker is an alumnus of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur and Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK.

He holds a master's degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King's College, University of London.

As the head of the Armed Forces Division, he was directly involved with the UN Peacekeeping Affairs of Bangladesh Armed Forces.

He was also nominated as a Gender Champion and Gender Advocate of Bangladesh for UN Peacekeeping Affairs.

By his appointment as principal staff officer, he also headed the 'Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention' as chairman.

Under the Blue Helmet, Lieutenant General Waker completed two tours of duty as an observer and staff in UNAVEM (Angola) and UNMIL (Liberia) respectively.

As the CGS of the Bangladesh Army, he is responsible for the military operations, military intelligence, UN peacekeeping affairs, budget, and many other affairs of the army.

Lieutenant General Waker had the rare privilege of commanding the National Victory Day Parade three consecutive times.

He was awarded the coveted 'Army Medal of Glory (SGP)' and Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) for his remarkable contributions to the modernisation of the army.

He frequents as a keynote speaker in different seminars and symposiums at home and abroad.