General Waker-Us-Zaman, who assumed the role of Bangladesh's army chief on June 23 at the age of 58, announced the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country amidst escalating protests and violence. Just over a month into his tenure, Zaman has been thrust into the spotlight with this significant announcement.

Bangladesh has been experiencing widespread protests and violence that began last month when student groups called for the abolition of a controversial quota system in government jobs. The unrest quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding the ouster of Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years and had secured a fourth consecutive term in January. The violent clashes have resulted in nearly 250 deaths.

Zaman's appointment as army chief is for a standard three-year term. Born in Dhaka in 1966, he is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, daughter of General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, who served as the army chief from 1997 to 2000. 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, as detailed on the Bangladesh Army's website.

Before becoming the army chief, Zaman served as the Chief of General Staff for just over six months, where he was responsible for overseeing military operations and intelligence, Bangladesh's participation in UN peacekeeping missions, and the military budget. His extensive career spans three and a half decades, during which he also worked closely with Hasina as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister's Office.

Zaman has been involved in the modernization of the army, according to the army's official website. As the nation faces renewed unrest, he has called upon army personnel to ensure the security of people's lives, property, and key state installations.

Please visit Realtime Brief for more news on this matter.