Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman, who announced on Monday that he was "taking full responsibility" after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, has spent nearly four decades rising to the top of the military.
Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a televised address to Bangladesh, announced the resignation of Sheickh Hasina and also said that the army would "form an interim government".
Waker-Uz-Zaman, 58, assumed the duties of army chief on June 23 for a period of three years - the normal tenure for the position. Hasina had trusted him because he was a distant relative. He served as a UN peacekeeper as well as in Hasina's office.
Waker-Uz-Zaman, born in Dhaka in 1966, boasts a distinguished military career and continues a family legacy within the Bangladeshi armed forces.
Waker-Uz-Zaman is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the daughter of General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, who served as army chief from 1997 to 2000 during Hasina's first term as prime minister.
Zaman 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, London. Prior to his current role, he was chief of general staff for just over six months, where he managed military operations, intelligence, and budget oversight.
A graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, Waker-Uz-Zaman has also completed two tours as a UN peacekeeper in Angola and Liberia. His career, spanning over 35 years, includes a significant role as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister's office, working closely with Hasina. He has been instrumental in modernizing the Bangladeshi army, demonstrating his strategic and practical military leadership.
In response to recent protests, Zaman has directed army personnel to protect citizens, property, and key state installations.
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