General Waker retreats, Dr Yunus consolidates support

Reading Time: 4 minutes Analysis of General Waker-uz-Zaman’s Remarks and Institutional Response Preface: Overview of the Officers’ Address and Reported Remarks On 21 May 2025, the Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-uz-Zaman, delivered a closed-door address to officers at the Dhaka Cantonment parade ground. While journalists were not invited and no official transcript was released by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), several Bangladeshi newspapers reported excerpts from the speech, citing multiple serving officers. The reported remarks included: The assertion that the national election must be held by December 2025. Concerns that decisions regarding the proposed Rakhine humanitarian corridor in Myanmar should be taken only by an elected government through legitimate means. Opposition to the outsourcing of Chattogram Port management to foreign entities without wider national consultation. Expressions of uncertainty regarding ongoing state reforms, claiming the Army had not been informed or consulted. A declaration that the Army was unaware