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Waker-uz-Zaman Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

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Age: 57 Years
Hometown: Sherpur, East Pakistan, Pakistan
Wife: Begum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman

Waker-uz-Zaman

Bio/Wiki
ProfessionArmy Personnel
Famous ForBeing the 18th Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army
Physical Stats
Height (approx.)5' 7" (170 cm)
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Military Career
Service/BranchBangladesh Army
RankGeneral
Service Years1985-present
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Awards• Samanya Seva Medal
• Sena Gourab Padak (SGP)
Major Designation(s)• 24 November 2020-29 December 2023: 15th Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division
• 23 June 2024: 18th Chief of Army Staff
Commands• Chief of the General Staff at Army Headquarters
• PSO of Armed Forces Division
• MS at Army Headquarters
• GOC of 9th Infantry Division
• Commander of 46th Independent Infantry Brigade
Battles/wars• UNMIL
• I UNAVEM
Personal Life
Date of Birth16 September 1966 (Friday)
Age (as of 2023)57 Years
BirthplaceSherpur, East Pakistan, Pakistan
Zodiac signVirgo
NationalityBangladeshi
HometownSherpur, East Pakistan, Pakistan
College/University• Defence Services Command and Staff College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• National University of Bangladesh
• King's College, University of London
Educational Qualification(s)• Graduation from Defence Services Command and Staff College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• A master's degree in Defence Studies from National University of Bangladesh
• A master's degree in Defence Studies from King's College, University of London
ReligionIslam
AddressSena Bhaban, Dhaka
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Family
Wife/SpouseBegum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman
ChildrenDaughters- 2
• Samiha Raisa Zaman
• Shayeera Ibnat Zaman
ParentsFather- Asad-uz-Zaman (district judge)
Other RelativesPaternal Grandfather- Late Khan Bahadur Fazlur Rahman
Paternal Grandmother- Late Khan Bahadur Sadeque Khan

Waker-uz-Zaman (left)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Waker-uz-Zaman

  • Waker-uz-Zaman joined the Bangladesh Military Academy on 20 December 1985 as part of the 13th BMA Long Course in the East Bengal Regiment.
  • While serving in the military, he taught at the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy (NCOA), School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T), and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT).
  • Waker-uz-Zaman has served in United Nations missions in Liberia and Angola for some time.
  • He held positions such as Deputy Assistant Military Secretary, Assistant Military Secretary, and Deputy Military Secretary at Army Headquarters.
  • Waker-uz-Zaman has served in the Army Security Unit and commanded the 17th East Bengal Regiment and the 46th Independent Infantry Brigade in Dhaka.
  • He was appointed as the Military Secretary of the Bangladesh Army twice, in 2013 and 2017.
  • Later, Waker-uz-Zaman became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander of the Savar Area in Bangladesh.
  • On 30 November 2020, he was promoted to the position of Lieutenant General. He became the 15th Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh.
  • In this role, he played an important role in coordinating military strategies and operations.
  • Waker-uz-Zaman then served as the chairperson of the Bangladesh National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention and a member of the governing body of the National Defence College.
  • On 29 December 2023, he was appointed as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army. He supervised operational and strategic planning to ensure the Army’s readiness.

    Waker-uz-Zaman (right) after being appointed as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Bangladesh

    Waker-uz-Zaman (right) after being appointed as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Bangladesh

  • During the same time, Waker-uz-Zaman served as the chairman of the Central Coordination Committee of Cantonment Public Schools and Colleges in Bangladesh.
  • He worked with the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, serving as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister’s Office.
  • Waker-uz-Zaman has been involved in the modernization of the Bangladesh Army.
  • His international contributions include participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions such as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Angola Verification Mission I (UNAVEM I).
  • On 11 June 2024, the Government of Bangladesh appointed him as the 18th Chief of Army Staff.
  • His wife, Begum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman, is the eldest daughter of the late General Mustafizur Rahman, who served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 24 December 1997 to 23 December 2000.
  • Mustafizur Rahman was the uncle of Sheikh Hasina.

    Waker-uz-Zaman during a meeting with Sheikh Hasina

    Waker-uz-Zaman during a meeting with Sheikh Hasina

  • His wife is Sheikh Hasina’s cousin.
  • On 5 August 2024, Waker-uz-Zaman confirmed that Sheikh Hasina had resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and that an interim government would be set up to run the country during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement. While addressing the country, he said,

    PM Hasina has resigned, interim government to run the country. We will return peace to the country. We ask citizens to stop violence. We will investigate all killings that have happened over the past few weeks.”

  • He added during the same television speech that he would take full responsibility for controlling the situation. He assured Bangladeshi citizens that the Army would meet all the demands of the protesters.
  • His address followed the imposition of a curfew to maintain law and order, showing the Army’s commitment to support the Constitution.
  • This announcement came after Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh due to widespread violent protests in August 2024. Reports stated that protesters stormed and looted the Prime Minister’s palace.

    A picture of a protester who went into the Presidential palace and took selfies on bed and Sheikh Hasina's official chair

    A picture of a protester who went into the Presidential palace and took selfies on the bed and Sheikh Hasina’s official chair

  • Apart from being a military personnel, he is a motivational speaker. Waker-uz-Zaman frequently delivers speeches at different seminars and conferences both in Bangladesh and abroad.
  • He enjoys playing games in his leisure time.
  • Waker-uz-Zaman likes travelling to distant places in his free time.

    Waker-uz-Zaman (middle) during a trip

    Waker-uz-Zaman (middle) during a trip