General Waqar-uz-Zaman took over as the army chief

General Waqar-uz-Zaman took charge as the army chief. He succeeded General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed this information in a message on Sunday (June 23).

Earlier, on June 11, ISPR said in a press release that Lt. Gen. Waqar-uz-Zaman, Chief of General Staff, has been promoted to the rank of General with effect from the afternoon of June 23 and has been appointed as the Army Chief for a period of 3 years from that date.

General Walker-uz-Zaman was commissioned into the Bangladesh Army on 20 December 1985 as a member of the East Bengal Regiment with the 13th Long Term Course. From the beginning of his military career, he successfully completed his graduation from Defense Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, with a succession of good results in various courses. Later he was also recognized as a graduate from the Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK. He completed Masters of Defense Studies (MDS) in first class under National University and Masters of Arts in Defense Studies from King's College, University of London, UK.

His long 39 years of illustrious military career is full of experience as a commander, staff and instructor. He served as vice-captain and captain of 17 East Bengal Regiment from 12 February 2009 to 8 June 2010. At that time, he earned great praise by performing his duties with devotion and discretion in suppressing the then BDR rebellion.

He served as the Commander of 46 Independent Infantry Brigade for over two years from 27 July 2011 to 11 November 2013. Commanded 9th Infantry Division for three years from 2 April 2014 to 23 February 2017 as GOC. As Area Commander, Savar Area and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 9th Infantry Division, he successfully served as Parade Commander of Victory Day Parade 2014, 2015 and 2016 for three consecutive years. In recognition of this rare achievement he was awarded the 'Sena Gaurav Padak' (SGP).

As a staff, he served in a brigade deployed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, School of Infantry and Tactics (S&T) and various designations and appointments at the military headquarters. Apart from this, he trained national and foreign soldiers of all ranks with reputation at JCO NCO Academy (JNA), School of Infantry and Tactics and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training (BIPSOT).

He served as Assistant Military Secretary, Deputy Military Secretary and Military Secretary (MS) for a long time in the military secretary's branch. Prior to taking charge as Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Army Headquarters, GS Wing, he was serving as Prime Minister's Principal Staff Officer (PSO-AFD) in the Prime Minister's Office, Armed Forces Department.

Lt. Gen. Walker-uz-Zaman served under the UN banner as a military observer in Angola and as a senior operations officer in Liberia. He was awarded the 'Outstanding Service Medal' (OSP) for his meritorious contribution to the Army. Besides, he participated in a significant number of seminars, symposiums and conferences in the country and abroad as a representative of the Bangladesh Army and brightened the image of the Bangladesh Army.

In his personal life, he is the father of two daughters named Samiha Raisa Zaman and Shaira Ibnat Zaman.