On May 20, Yunus held a routine closed-door meeting with the three chiefs of armed forces. Zaman’s suggestion to hold general elections by December this year is said to be the reason for tensions with Yunus, according to Al Jazeera.
Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday addressed army officers at a Dhaka-based programme and said that national elections should be held by December 2025, adding that his stance on it remains unchanged, as only an elected government can determine Bangladesh’s future.Who is Waker-Uz-Zaman?
Born in Dhaka in 1966, Waker-uz-Zaman has been serving in the military for nearly four decades.
A graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, Zaman completed his Master’s degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh.
Besides this, he has a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College, London.
He served as an instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, Non-commissioned Officers’ Academy, as well as the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training.
He has worked as the Military Secretary in the Army Headquarters and was the Principal Staff Officer at the Armed Forces Division when Hasina was serving as the Prime Minister.
Earlier, he was also a part of the UN peacekeeping affairs of the Bangladesh Army. His significant contributions towards modernising the army later earned him the Army Medal of Glory (SGP) and the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP).
Zaman was appointed the army chief on June 23, 2024.
On August 5, 2024, Zaman addressed the nation via a televised broadcast amid protests and announced that Hasina had resigned and fled to India.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
