Bangladesh in Turmoil: PM Resigns Amidst Unrest, New Army Chief Thrust into Spotlight

Recent political turmoil in Bangladesh saw the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst violent protests. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the new army chief, has been thrust into the spotlight due to his role in mitigating the unrest. Nearly 250 people have died in the violence since Zaman assumed office in June.

Just over a month into his tenure as Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman has been thrust into the limelight with the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on Monday.

The nation has been engulfed in protests and violence since last month. The unrest began with student groups demanding the abolition of a controversial quota system in government jobs. These protests escalated into a widespread campaign to oust Hasina, who has held power for 15 years and was re-elected for a fourth straight term in January. The violence has claimed nearly 250 lives.

General Zaman, 58, took over as army chief on June 23 for a standard tenure of three years. Born in Dhaka in 1966, he is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the daughter of former army chief General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman. Zaman holds a Masters degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King's College, London. Before becoming the army chief, he served as Chief of General Staff, overseeing military operations, intelligence, UN peacekeeping roles, and budget management.

In his three-and-a-half-decade-long career, Zaman has closely worked with Hasina, serving as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister's Office. Zaman has also played a key role in the modernization of the army, as noted by the army website.

As the latest wave of protests shakes the nation, Zaman has called on army personnel to ensure the security of people's lives, properties, and important state installations.