Army Chief General Waqar-Uz-Zaman led the Maghrib prayer during a presidential reception at Bangabhaban, sparking widespread discussion. Responding to the controversy, his former army colleague and retired officer, Abu Rushd Md. Shahidul Islam, defended him, stating:

"Even in his youth, Waqar used to lead prayers. We were coursemates and roommates, spending two years training together in the same platoon in 1984-85. Our rigorous training left us exhausted, but Waqar would still perform ablution and offer prayers diligently, even completing missed prayers before sleeping."