Navy Chief Khondkar Misbah ul Azim promoted to Admiral

Bangladesh Navy Chief Vice Admiral Khondkar Misbah-ul-Azim has been promoted to the rank of Admiral.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman today adorned the Navy Chief with the Admiral rank badges at Air Headquarters, said an ISPR release this afternoon.

The Prime Minister, the Head of the Government,  congratulated the Navy Chief on the occasion.

Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Md Ashraf Uddin and senior military officials were present during the rank pinning ceremony.

Admiral Khondkar Misbah-ul-Azim assumed office as the Chief of Naval Staff on July 23, 2026 for a three-year term.

He joined the Bangladesh Navy on January 1, 1987, and was commissioned in the Executive Branch on July 1, 1989, after completing naval training with distinction from the Royal Malaysian Navy.

He stood first in merit and seniority in his 87-A batch. Admiral Azim obtained a PhD in Maritime Governance from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). 

He also holds an MPhil and three master's degrees in strategic, defence and operational studies, securing first class in each. 

He is a distinguished graduate of the National Defence College (NDC), Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) and Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), the ISPR mentioned.

During his nearly four-decade career, he has held various important command, staff and leadership positions in the Bangladesh Navy, including Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander Dhaka Naval Area, Commander Submarines, Commandant of Bangladesh Naval Academy and Director Naval Operations at Naval Headquarters.

He commanded several types of Bangladesh Navy warships, including BNS Umar Farooq, BNS S R Amin, BNS Nirbhoy and BNS Saikat.
He also served as an instructor at the Bangladesh Naval Academy, DSCSC and NDC.

In the international arena, Admiral Azim served in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Most recently, he served as Bangladesh's ambassador to Oman, where he played a significant role in strengthening Bangladesh-Oman bilateral relations, expanding trade ties and promoting the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis.

He has received the Navy's highest peacetime award, the Navy Medal (NBP), as well as the Naval Proficiency Medal (NPP), National Integrity Award and National Scout Award (Silver Hilsa Medal). 

He has also received the Chief of Naval Staff's Commendation Insignia three times.

He has received the Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Award, Best Individual Research Paper Award and Best Student Award in specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare training.

Alongside his professional responsibilities, Admiral Azim is an avid reader, writer and researcher. He has published articles on maritime security, defence, and military and naval strategy in reputed journals and periodicals.

His sporting interests include golf, basketball, chess and table tennis. He is fluent in Bangla and English and has practical proficiency in Malay and French, the release said.

Admiral Azim is married to Begum Nurtaj Azim. They have two daughters.