Latest news with #Waker-uz-Zaman
Time of India
2 days ago
- 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
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First Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Who is Bangladesh's Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman at loggerheads with Yunus?
There are reports of tensions between Bangladesh leader Mohammed Yunus and the Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman over the holding of elections. Zaman is said to be unhappy with the interim government over its functioning. Amid speculations of Yunus' potential resignation, let's look at who is the army chief? read more 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 Bangladesh is once again on the brink of a political upheaval. Tensions have been reported between the interim government leader, Professor Mohammed Yunus, and Bangladesh's Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman over holding the general elections in the South Asian country. There are also speculations that Yunus could offer his resignation. The Nobel laureate formed the interim government after the then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country in the wake of widespread anti-government protests last August. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent developments have thrown Bangladesh's army chief into the limelight. Who is Waker-uz-Zaman? Let's take a closer look. Meet Waker-uz-Zaman Born in Dhaka in 1966, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has served nearly four decades in the military. A graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, he earned a Master's degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and completed a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King's College, London. He joined the infantry in 1985 and subsequently rose through the ranks to command Bangladesh's Infantry Battalion, as per The Hindu report. Zaman has served as an instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, Non-commissioned Officers' Academy and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training. He was also part of the UN peacekeeping affairs of the Bangladesh Army. Zaman also has experience as Military Secretary in the Army Headquarters and Principal Staff Officer at the Armed Forces Division under Prime Minister Hasina. As the principal staff officer, he played a big role in national defence strategies and international peacekeeping. Zaman's contributions to modernising the army earned him the Army Medal of Glory (SGP) and the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP), reported Indian Express. When India warned Hasina about Zaman General Zaman took over the post of Bangladesh's Army chief in June 2024, succeeding General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed. However, before his appointment, Indian intelligence agencies had warned Dhaka against him. Top sources in Hasina's Awami League told News18 that a senior Indian government official had contacted the then Bangladesh PM against Zaman's appointment, believing that the incoming army chief may be 'pro-Pakistan'. Hasina listened and thanked the official for their concern, but did not stop Zaman's appointment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The objection was on two counts. One, on technical grounds as Zaman wasn't in his best health then. Two better candidates were overlooked, New Delhi had pointed out. The second point was strategic as Zaman was pro-Pakistan. However, it seems Waker-Uz-Zaman finally got the post because he was related to Sheikh Hasina," Bangladeshi journalist Shahidul Hasan Khokon told News18. Zaman is married to academic Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the eldest daughter of late General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman. Sarahnaz's father was the Army chief in the late 1990s, during Hasina's first prime ministerial stint. General Rahman was married to a cousin of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This makes General Zaman a distant relative of Hasina. Hasina's downfall puts focus on Zaman As Hasina 's government fell last August due to student-led anti-government protests, General Zaman announced the formation of an interim government. Confirming Hasina's resignation, he said: 'I'm taking all responsibility (of the country). Please cooperate.' Dressed in his military uniform, Zaman was on state television, telling the public, 'We will establish an interim government. Our country has endured significant suffering — the economy is in turmoil, and many lives have been lost. It is crucial to end the violence. I hope my address today will contribute to restoring stability.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After the Hasina government's downfall, the Army took over responsibility for law and order in the country. Is there rift between Zaman and Yunus? Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was named chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government on August 6, 2024, a day after Hasina fled the country and came to India. In an interview with Prothom Alo in December, General Zaman announced support for the interim government. However, he also condemned the authorities for failing to rebuild the policing structure. 'At the end of the day, it is my soldiers who have to take to the field. They have been five months in the field now,' he said. Zaman's meeting with former PM Khaleda Zia at her residence in January gave rise to speculations about the Bangladesh Army chief's next move. Now, the friction between Zaman and Yunus is out in the open. The interim government has indicated it cannot hold elections by December. This was part of the discussions led by Yunus of the council of advisers late Thursday (May 22), as per The Hindu report. This came a day after Zaman held a closed-door meeting with Commanding Officers where he expressed displeasure with the functioning of the interim government and said, 'Elections must be held by December and that only an elected government should determine the nation's course and not an unelected administration'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There are reports that Yunus is threatening to resign. If he steps down, would Zaman come forward and take direct control of Bangladesh? Only time will tell. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
21-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Muhammad Yunus-Bangladesh Army Chief Tensions On The Boil
In today's episode of India Global, Tensions between Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman and Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus have reached a boiling point. What began as a routine law and order meeting has exposed a fierce battle, not just over governance, but the soul of the state. Sources confirm General Zaman's U.S. trip was abruptly cancelled amid fears of Islamist mobilisation near his residence, fueled, allegedly, by Yunus' backers. One man in the shadows: Lieutenant General Mohammad Faizur Rahman, accused of pro-ISI ties and seen as Yunus's insider within the military ranks. The army's not backing down. A major raid in the capital busted an armed criminal gang, part of a broader push by the military to reclaim public confidence. Meanwhile, Yunus faces charges of stalling democratic elections and promoting Islamist-linked figures like Mohammad Azaz, once a top Hizb ut-Tahrir leader. The interim government's credibility is crumbling fast, and the army is watching. NDTV's Gaurie Dwivedi speaks with Senior Bangladeshi Journalist Muktadir Rashid and International Affairs Expert Prof Swaran Singh to discuss this and more. Show Full
Qatar Tribune
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan meets with Bangladesh Olympic Association President
Tribune News Network Doha H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met with General Waker-uz-Zaman, President of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), who is currently visiting Doha. The meeting focused on exploring ways to strengthen bilateral sports cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise between both committees in the period ahead. The two sides discussed the ongoing progress of the Olympic movement in Bangladesh and the country's growing engagement at the continental level, reflecting its broader aspirations to cement a stronger presence on the Asian sports stage. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed the QOC's commitment to supporting National Olympic Committees across Asia and globally through knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable sports development and the advancement of the Olympic Movement. The talks also touched on preparations for the 20th Asian Games, set to be held next year in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Both sides exchanged views on ways to coordinate efforts and technical expertise to prepare their national teams, while exploring opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the lead-up to this major continental event. The visit highlighted Qatar's leading role in advancing sports development both regionally and internationally, and its commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships within the global Olympic community. At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties expressed their shared aspiration to maintain close coordination and collaboration, in a manner that will further deepen ties between the QOC and the BOA and bring direct benefits to athletes in both countries as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
