Latest news with #Waker-uz-Zaman
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First Post
19 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Bangladesh's army chief is saying what Yunus should be
Celebrating Janmashtami in Dhaka on Saturday, the army chief said Bangladesh belongs to everyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, race, or community Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman gestures during an interview with Reuters at his office in the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 23, 2024. File Photo/Reuters As Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faces criticism for his silence on rising communal tensions, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has taken a bold stand for unity and celebrated Janmashtami in Dhaka on Saturday. According to a Times of India report, the army chief delivered a powerful message, saying Bangladesh belongs to everyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, race, or community. Emphasising that all citizens have equal rights in the country, he said, 'You will live in this country without fear. We will always stand by your side.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was joined at the event by Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Major General Md Moin Khan, GOC of the Army's 9th Infantry Division— sending a strong message that the military stands united in safeguarding Bangladesh's secular values at a time when fundamentalist forces are gaining ground. Referring to the presence of the Navy chief, Air chief, and the GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, General Waker-uz-Zaman said, 'Together, we will always stand beside you… You will live in this country without fear. Celebrate your religious festivals with joy. We will share in your celebrations together.' In Bangladesh, the rights of religious minorities remain a pressing concern. Since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, reports of violence and targeted attacks —particularly against the Hindu community — have surged. These incidents, along with ongoing patterns of discrimination and harassment, have heightened fears for the safety and security of minority groups across the country. With inputs from agencies
Economic Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Bangladesh Army chief joins Janmashtami festivity in Dhaka
Synopsis Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman reassured the Hindu community during Janmashtami celebrations in Dhaka, emphasizing equal rights and protection for all citizens. Joined by the Navy and Air Force chiefs, he signaled the military's commitment to safeguarding secular traditions against rising fundamentalist forces. He pledged unwavering support, ensuring a fear-free environment for religious observances. Agencies Bangladesh Army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has stepped in to safeguard communal harmony as he celebrated Janmashtami in Dhaka. Speaking at an event on Saturday, Waker-uz-Zaman said Bangladesh belongs to everyone, and there should be no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, race or that all citizens have equal rights in the country, he said, "You will live in this country without fear. We will always stand by your side."He was joined on the occasion by Navy chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Bangladesh Army's 9th Infantry Division GOC Major General Md Moin Khan, signalling that the military will play a critical role in protecting Bangladesh's secular traditions amid the rise of fundamentalist to the presence of the Navy chief, Air chief, and the GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, General Waker-uz-Zaman said: "Together, we will always stand beside you... You will live in this country without fear. Celebrate your religious festivals with joy. We will share in your celebrations together."
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh Army chief joins Janmashtami festivity in Dhaka
Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has stepped in to safeguard communal harmony as he celebrated Janmashtami in Dhaka. Speaking at an event on Saturday, Waker-uz-Zaman said Bangladesh belongs to everyone, and there should be no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, race or community. Emphasising that all citizens have equal rights in the country, he said, "You will live in this country without fear. We will always stand by your side." He was joined on the occasion by Navy chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and Bangladesh Army's 9th Infantry Division GOC Major General Md Moin Khan, signalling that the military will play a critical role in protecting Bangladesh's secular traditions amid the rise of fundamentalist forces. Referring to the presence of the Navy chief, Air chief, and the GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, General Waker-uz-Zaman said: "Together, we will always stand beside you... You will live in this country without fear. Celebrate your religious festivals with joy. We will share in your celebrations together."
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Transponders off, tensions on: How Sheikh Hasina pulled off dramatic escape from Bangladesh
In a meticulously orchestrated operation, former Bangladesh Prime Minister departed Dhaka on August 5, 2024, under a veil of secrecy, amid escalating political unrest. She landed at Hindon Airport in India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Hasina's aircraft remained the most tracked plane that day. As per real-time data from the flightradar24 website, Bangladesh Air Force aircraft AJAX1431 become the most tracked plane globally, with over 29,000 people following its route at one point of time. Here's how the escape took place: The Bangladesh Air Force's Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, designated AJAX1431, took off from Bangabandhu Airbase at 3.09pm, officially listed as a training flight. To obscure its trajectory, the aircraft's transponders and automatic geolocator systems were deactivated until it neared Indian airspace over West Bengal, The Daily Star reported citing sources. Upon approaching Indian airspace, AJAX1431 reactivated its transponders at waypoint "BEMAK" and altered its course from Kolkata to Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This clandestine departure occurred just 30 minutes before protesters seized the Gono Bhaban, Hasina's official residence. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, unaware of Hasina's departure, was preparing to announce her resignation. In a later interview, he acknowledged the volatile situation and the potential risks to Hasina's life had she remained in the country. "When I was holding discussions with the political parties, somebody informed me that she is going to exit the country, she is on the run. I did not know that she was leaving the country. I think that if she had stayed, it could have been a risk to her life. Definitely, nobody would have wanted an extra-judicial killing to have happened. The situation was extremely volatile," he said.
News18
24-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bangladesh On The Brink Again? Yunus Under Fire, Army Chief Holds 'Darbar' As Dhaka Disquieted
Last Updated: Whether the country is again spiralling back into civil-political unrest remains to be seen, said some sources Bangladesh is once again at a boiling point after some rapid and critical developments early this week. A silent but unmistakable shift appears to be underway in the country's administrative and political framework. The recent 'Darbar" (closed-door meeting with the commanding officers) convened by army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has triggered heightened speculation of growing military assertiveness in civilian matters, particularly at a time when the political establishment is already grappling with internal dissent and external pressure. The abrupt removal of the foreign secretary has only deepened the sense of volatility. In the wake of the Darbar led by the army chief, coupled with a discreet but significant meeting between Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, and Nihad Islam, leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), diplomatic and political circles are abuzz with speculation. The developments were followed by a series of statements and press conferences by the political parties and their leaders requesting Yunus to not 'resign" while urging him to call an all-party meeting. advetisement Meanwhile, a senior politician of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who did not wish to be named, said, 'Yunus is now trying to garner sympathy. He is not a person who would resign so easily until pushed hard. We have only been demanding a proper election plan in place, and the interim government is being evasive on that. Instead, they are making decisions that are not even an interim government's mandate." 'Darbar' in Dhaka ignites fresh volatility General Waker's remarks at the Darbar, described by sources in Dhaka as 'firm and direct", reportedly conveyed an unambiguous message: security and territorial integrity will be safeguarded without compromise, and any perception of foreign interference will be treated as a direct challenge. Shortly after, the unexpected removal of Bangladesh's foreign secretary without a formal explanation, however, added to the sense of deepening institutional unease. The move is widely viewed as an internal realignment. A senior diplomat who served in Dhaka recently said, 'The situation is sensitive and volatile. The next 48 hours are very crucial, as a lot of realignment in the administration and political structure is taking place. We may also see an announcement for elections in the next few months, as some of the actions, including banning the Awami League, were indicative of that. Whether the country is again spiralling back into civil-political unrest remains to be seen. But historically and by pattern, shifts in Bangladesh's political structure have rarely come without violence." Adding another layer to the unfolding situation, Yunus met with the National Citizen Party's Islam in a meeting that piqued diplomatic and political interest. While officially informal, the conversation is being seen as politically significant. Nihad Islam told the media after the meeting that Yunus was 'upset" and that he 'offered to resign as he was facing opposition from the political parties in implementing reforms". A source in Dhaka said that the government is working on a 'July Charter", for which BNP has demanded a referendum. BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have separate demands, and both parties are seeking resignations from a set of advisers of the interim government while pushing for early elections. Delicate hours ahead The military's growing grip was further underlined by General Waker's rejection of a proposed humanitarian corridor through the Rakhine state of Myanmar, a move interpreted by the foreign policy observers as part of a broader posture to reassert Bangladesh's strategic sovereignty, even at the cost of humanitarian obligations. Advertisement While details of the corridor proposal remain confidential, the military's refusal comes at a time of heightened tension in border districts and amid renewed concerns over regional refugee flows and internal displacement. top videos View All Foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka, including senior envoys from India, the US, and ASEAN nations, are learnt to have started issuing private advisories over the past few weeks, with one seasoned diplomat calling the next 48 hours 'delicate and potentially determinative". Even though there is no official confirmation of any extraordinary measures, the combination of military assertiveness, bureaucratic reshuffling, and politically sensitive meetings signals that Bangladesh's internal equations are again undergoing a quiet recalibration. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bangladesh dhaka election military Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 24, 2025, 06:30 IST News world Bangladesh On The Brink Again? Yunus Under Fire, Army Chief Holds 'Darbar' As Dhaka Disquieted
