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.
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.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
