General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Bangladesh's Army Chief who has been a target of hardliners in the country, recently decided not to visit New Delhi. He was scheduled to attend a three-day international conference on terrorism, but has now decided against it due to strategic reasons.
Dhaka: Bangladesh's Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has decided not to participate in two international conferences scheduled to take place in New Delhi this month. According to sources, this decision was made as a strategic move to avoid any potential backlash from hardliners in Bangladesh. General Zaman was initially slated to attend the South Asia Counter-Terrorism Conference, which is to be held in New Delhi from October 13 to 16, 2025.
Additionally, he was also expected to attend the Senior Leaders' Conference of United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC), scheduled for October 14 to 16, 2025, also in New Delhi.
Bangladesh to be represented by other senior military officials
According to sources, Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Bangladesh Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), will now represent Bangladesh at the counter-terrorism conference and the UNTCC meeting in New Delhi, in place of General Zaman. Experts believe that General Zaman's postponed visit to New Delhi is part of a well-thought-out strategy.
He aims to avoid any controversial accusations or protests from hardliners in Bangladesh. Some hardliners have consistently accused Bangladesh's military leadership of adopting a soft stance towards India and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
India-Bangladesh Army Relations
General Zaman's most recent foreign trip was to Malaysia, where he participated in the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference held from September 22 to 27, 2025. The objective of this conference was to strengthen regional cooperation, address shared challenges, and enhance crisis management. Reports also emerged of a meeting between Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and General Zaman during this conference in Malaysia. However, detailed information about the discussions held in this meeting has not been made public.
Experts suggest that General Zaman's absence from the counter-terrorism conference in New Delhi is a strategic move to avoid drawing attention to the ongoing relationship between the Bangladesh and Indian armies. This step comes at a time when bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi are at their lowest point.
Hardline groups in Bangladesh have frequently exerted pressure on the army leadership, particularly concerning military cooperation and bilateral training programs with India. Experts believe that General Zaman has postponed his New Delhi visit keeping security and political sensitivities in mind. Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman's representation will ensure that Bangladesh's perspective is presented at the conference, while minimizing the potential for any controversy or internal opposition.
