National
Lt General Waker-Uz-Zaman Appointed as Chief of Bangladesh Army
Lt General Waker-Uz-Zaman has been appointed the new chief of the Bangladesh Army, effective from the afternoon of June 23, according to a release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today.
He will serve a three-year term, during which he will be promoted to the rank of General and assume the role of Army Chief. Currently, he is the Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army.
An alumnus of the Bangladesh Military Academy, Lt General Waker was commissioned into the Corps of Infantry on December 20, 1985. His distinguished military career spans over three and a half decades, encompassing numerous key command, staff, and instructional roles.
Throughout his career, Lt General Waker has commanded an Infantry Battalion, the only Independent Infantry Brigade of the Bangladesh Army, and an Infantry Division. His notable staff appointments include roles at an Infantry Brigade, the School of Infantry and Tactics, and Army Headquarters. He has also served as a distinguished instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy, and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training.
Lt General Waker held the position of Military Secretary at Army Headquarters and, before becoming Chief of General Staff on January 1 this year, he served as the Principal Staff Officer to the Prime Minister in the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister’s Office.
He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, and the 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.
In his role as head of the Armed Forces Division, Lt General Waker was directly involved in the UN Peacekeeping Affairs of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. He was also recognized as a Gender Champion and Advocate for Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping Affairs.
Additionally, as Principal Staff Officer, he chaired the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention. Under the UN’s Blue Helmet, he completed two tours of duty as an observer and staff in UNAVEM (Angola) and UNMIL (Liberia).
As Chief of General Staff, he has overseen military operations, intelligence, UN peacekeeping affairs, budgeting, and various other army matters. Notably, he commanded the National Victory Day Parade for three consecutive years.
Lt General Waker has been honored with the Army Medal of Glory (SGP) and the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) for his significant contributions to army modernization. He is a frequent keynote speaker at seminars and symposiums both domestically and internationally.
He is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman and has two daughters, Samiha Raisa Zaman and Shayeera Ibnat Zaman. He enjoys games and sports in his leisure time.
National
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The Ministry of Education confirmed the appointment through an official notification issued on Sunday (23 November), signed by Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on behalf of the President.
The notice states that, with the approval of the Honorable President and Chancellor, Professor Rahman will serve a four-year term as Vice-Chancellor under Section 31(1) of the Private University Act, 2010. He will receive all salary, allowances, and benefits as determined by the university, and his duties will commence immediately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Professor Rahman has an outstanding academic background. He secured First Class First in his Honors degree from the University of Dhaka’s Marketing Department, achieving record-breaking marks. He completed his MBA with dual majors in Finance and Marketing at Dalhousie University in Canada, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He later earned his Master’s degree (First Class Second) and PhD from the same department at the University of Dhaka.
During his illustrious 35-year career, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka for three years and was elected to both the Syndicate and Senate of the university. He also served as Dean at Daffodil International University and has taught as an adjunct professor at North South University, BRAC University, and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
Professor Rahman has an extensive body of research, with over 35 publications, including four international papers and three research monographs. Several MPhil and PhD scholars have completed their degrees under his supervision. He also served for many years as Vice President of the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association.
Outside academia, he has contributed significantly to the corporate sector and educational governance. He has worked as an independent director and strategic adviser to various reputed organizations and has served on the governing bodies of several well-known colleges in Dhaka. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the North South Society.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
