Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, OSP, SGP, psc has been appointed as the new army chief of Bangladesh, effective from June 23.
With this appointment, he will be promoted to the rank of general, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defense press release on Tuesday (June 11). His tenure as army chief will last for three years.
Meanwhile, according to another press release issued by the Ministry of Defense today, Bangladesh Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, OSP, NDU, psc will retire on June 23, 2024, upon completion of his tenure. General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed took over the command of the Bangladesh Army as the 17th chief of army staff on June 24, 2021.
Biography of Lt General Waker-Uz-Zaman
Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, OSP, SGP, psc assumed the duties of Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army on January 1, 2024.
An alumnus of Bangladesh Military Academy, the General was commissioned in the Corps of Infantry on 20 December 1985. Waker’s father-in-law, the late Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, served as the chief of Bangladesh’s Army from 1997 to 2000.
Having an illustrious and colorful career of 39 years, Lieutenant General Waker brings with him rich and diversified experience in holding key command, staff and instructional appointments.
He served as the Second-in-Command and Commanding Officer of the 17th East Bengal Regiment from February 12, 2009 to June 8, 2010. During this time, he performed his duties with dedication and prudence, earning him widespread praise.
He served as the Commander of the 46th Independent Infantry Brigade for over two years from July 27, 2011 to November 11, 2013. As a General Officer Commanding (GOC), he commanded the 9th Infantry Division for three years from April 2, 2014 to February 23, 2017. As the Area Commander of Savar Area and GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, he successfully served as the Parade Commander for the Victory Day Parades in 2014, 2015 and 2016 for three consecutive years.
His key staff appointments include staff officer at an Infantry Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics and Army Headquarters. 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).
Lieutenant General Waker served as the Military Secretary in Army Headquarters in 2017. On 30 November 2020, Waker was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division. He served as the chairperson of the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention. He was a member of the governing body of the National Defense College.
Lieutenant General Waker is an alumnus of the Defense Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur and Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK. He holds a Masters degree in Defense Studies from National University of Bangladesh and Master of Arts in Defense 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.
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 Bangladesh Army.
He frequents as a keynote speaker in different seminars and symposiums both at home and abroad. He enjoys games and sports. He is happily married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman and blessed with two daughters – Samiha Raisa Zaman and Shayeera Ibnat Zaman.
