According to the press release of ISPR, the tenure of Waker Uz Zaman as Army Chief will be for three years. Current Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed assumed command of the Bangladesh Army as the 17th Army Chief of Bangladesh on 24 June 2021.
Lieutenant General Waker-uz-Zaman assumed charge as the Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army on 1 January 2021. An alumnus of the Bangladesh Military Academy, Waker-uz-Zaman was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on 20 December 1985. With an illustrious career spanning over three and a half decades, Lieutenant General Waker brings with him extensive experience in key command, staff and instructional appointments. In his distinguished military career, Lieutenant General Walker has commanded an infantry battalion, the Bangladesh Army’s only independent infantry brigade and an infantry division.
His key staff appointments include roles as a staff officer in command of an Army Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics and Army Headquarters. Lt Gen Zaman has also been a distinguished instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training. In addition, Lt Gen Waker has also served as military secretary at Army Headquarters.
Before joining as Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Bangladesh Army, he served as the principal staff officer to the Prime Minister in the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister’s Office.
Lt Gen Waker is an alumnus of 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 degree in Defence Studies from King’s College, University of London.
As Chief of the Armed Forces Division, he was directly involved with UN Peacekeeping affairs of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He was also designated as Bangladesh’s Gender Champion and Gender Advocate for UN Peacekeeping Affairs.
By virtue of his appointment as the Chief Staff Officer, he also headed the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention as the Chairperson.
Lt Gen Waker completed two tours of duty in Angola and Liberia as Observer and Staff respectively.
As the Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army, he has been responsible for military operations, military intelligence, UN peacekeeping affairs, budget and many other aspects of the army.
He often attends various seminars and symposia in the country and abroad as a keynote speaker. He loves sports and playing.
Lieutenant General Waker-uz-Zaman is survived by his wife Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman and their two daughters Samiha Rai sah and Shayeera Ibnat.
