Govt appoints Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman as new army chief
NEWS DESK
The government has named Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman as the new Chief of Army Staff.
“Chief of General Staff (CGS) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, OSP,SGP,PSC, has been promoted to general post and appointed as the Chief of Army Staff for three years from afternoon of June 23,” said a gazette notification of Defence Ministry on Tuesday.
Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman assumed the duties of Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army on 01 January 2024.
An alumnus of Bangladesh Military Academy, the General was commissioned in the Corps of Infantry on 20 December 1985.
Having an illustrious and colourful career of more than three and a half decades, Lieutenant General Waker brings with him an enormous amount of experience of 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 BD 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 ‘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. Prior to joining as the CGS of Bangladesh Army, he performed as Principal Staff Officer of the Prime Minister at Armed Forces Division under 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 degree in Defence Studies from National University of Bangladesh and 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 virtue of 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 observer and staff in UNAVEM (Angola) and UNMIL (Liberia) respectively.
As the CGS of the BD Army, he is responsible for the military operations, military intelligence, UN peacekeeping affairs, budget, and many other affairs of the BD Army.
Lieutenant General Waker had the rare privilege of commanding the National Victory Day Parade for three consecutive times.
He was awarded the coveted ‘Army Medal of Glory (SGP)’ and Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) for his remarkable contributions in the modernization of the 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.
