General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff (CAS), has been denied a Canadian visa, prompting the cancellation of his planned visit to Ottawa, along with all associated programs, hotel reservations, and seminars arranged by the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa.
The Army Chief is currently in the United States, accompanied by his wife, Sarahnaz Komolika Zaman, and two senior military officials.
According to official reports, General Waqar and his delegation departed Dhaka on October 15 via Turkish Airlines Flight TK713, bound for Istanbul, before boarding Flight TK11 to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, where they arrived later that evening. The purpose of the trip is to attend pre-scheduled bilateral meetings with senior officials from the U.S. State Department and military leadership.
General Waqar’s U.S. visit is viewed as highly significant by analysts, given his influential role in recent political developments in Bangladesh. Although the military has not assumed direct control of the government, it is widely believed that General Waqar plays a pivotal role behind the scenes, providing support to the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Many within Bangladesh refer to the country’s recent political shift as a “student-military coup,” highlighting the Army’s substantial influence on the current administration. The opposition, led by the ousted Awami League, has alleged U.S. involvement in what they call the “Monsoon Revolution.”
The Army Chief’s visit comes on the heels of high-profile trips by Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, Mohammad Jashim Uddin, and interim Prime Minister Dr. Yunus, both of whom visited the U.S. in September for the United Nations General Assembly. General Waqar’s presence in the U.S. is seen as a continuation of Bangladesh’s engagement with American officials amid a rapidly evolving political landscape back home.
As part of his initial itinerary, General Waqar was scheduled to travel from Buffalo to Ottawa by road on October 19, a trip described as personal but one for which the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa had made extensive preparations. Following the Ottawa visit, he was to return to Washington, D.C., on October 21 and then depart for Bangladesh on October 23.
However, the denial of his Canadian visa has derailed these plans. While his two accompanying officers, Brigadier General SM Asadul Haque and Major Mohammad Shoaib Rifat, were approved to submit their passports for visa processing, Canadian authorities advised General Waqar and his wife not to submit theirs.
Despite extensive diplomatic efforts by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reverse the decision, Canadian authorities did not alter their stance. A retired military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as a major embarrassment for both the Bangladesh government and its military. Sources suggest the visa denial may be linked to recent concerns over extremism, human rights abuses, and political repression in Bangladesh. Issues such as the persecution of minorities, alleged suppression of opposition parties, and a recent incident involving the shooting of workers by military personnel in Ashulia have drawn increased international scrutiny.
A former diplomat characterized the denial as a diplomatic setback for the Bangladeshi government. The High Commission in Ottawa had made extensive arrangements for General Waqar’s visit, including accommodations at the Fairmont Château Laurier and meetings with retired military officers residing in Canada. The High Commissioner, Nahida Sobhan, had spearheaded these efforts, while her husband, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Qatar, had already arrived in Ottawa to greet the Army Chief. His plans to foster stronger relations with General Waqar were also disrupted by the visa issue.
It is reported that General Waqar may attempt to reapply for a Canadian visa while in the U.S. Should his application be approved, he could still proceed with his planned visit to Ottawa.
The representative of The Voice called and messaged the army chief’s official mobile number, but no statement was received from the army chief in this regard.