Bangladesh army chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, has taken charge after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and reportedly fled to India.
Waker announced on state TV on Monday, August 5, that he is assuming full responsibility and promised to address injustices, stop violence, and form an interim government.
“I give you my word that all the injustices will be addressed.
“The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed – it is time to stop the violence,” he said.
The military chief, a career infantry officer appointed as army chief in June, is known for his experience as a United Nations peacekeeper and his service in Hasina’s office. His father-in-law was also an army chief during Hasina’s first term as prime minister.
The army declared an emergency following widespread unrest in January 2007 and installed a caretaker government for two years.
Hasina ruled from 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January, but recent protests demanding her resignation led to her ouster.
Protesters stormed Hasina’s palace on Friday, causing her to flee by helicopter.
Waker has held talks with opposition parties and civil society members, pledging to prosecute those responsible for the recent deadly protests.
The army, initially deployed to crush the protests, allowed demonstrations to continue last Sunday. Waker called for an end to the unrest, which has claimed at least 300 lives, and appealed to university students to support the army.
Mr Waker, a graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, holds master’s degrees in defense studies from Bangladesh’s National University and King’s College London.
He has also received officer training in Britain and served as an instructor at the army’s college for infantry and tactics. Married with two daughters, Waker was commissioned in 1985 and has a long-standing military career.