Bangladesh protests live updates
Bangladesh has been engulfed in protests and violence that began last month after student groups demanded the scrapping of a quota system in government jobs.This unrest escalated into a campaign seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years and most recently won a fourth straight term in January.
Also read: ‘Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigned, interim govt to be formed,’ Army chief confirms
Nearly 250 people have been killed in the violence.
Zaman assumed the duties of army chief on June 23 for three years—the standard tenure for the position.
Born in Dhaka in 1966, Zaman has a distinguished military background and a family legacy in the Bangladeshi armed forces. He is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the daughter of General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, who served as army chief from 1997 to 2000. Zaman’s academic credentials include 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.
Before his current role, Zaman served as the chief of general staff for a little over six months where he oversaw military operations, intelligence, UN peacekeeping roles, and budget management. His career, spanning three-and-a-half decades, also includes a tenure as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister’s office, working closely with Hasina.
The army chief has played an important role in the modernisation of the Bangladeshi army, showcasing his strategic and practical approach to military leadership. As protests shook the country this month, he called upon army personnel to ensure the security of people’s lives, properties, and important state installations.