Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Khondkar Misbah Ul Azim was formally adorned with the rank badge of Vice Admiral by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the outgoing Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, during a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Armed Forces Division office in Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday.

According to Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony, the Premier extended his warm congratulations to the newly appointed naval chief during the event while Vice Admiral Khondkar Misbah Ul Azim expressed his sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Bangladesh Navy.

The ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Quartermaster General of the Army Lieutenant General Md Shahinur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, Prime Minister's Military Secretary Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tariq, and Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.

Vice Admiral Misbah Ul Azim began his service with the Bangladesh Navy on January 1, 1987, and earned his commission in the Executive Branch in 1989.

He completed his foundational naval training with distinction in the Royal Malaysian Navy. Alongside extensive advanced military and academic coursework in Bangladesh and overseas, he holds a PhD in Maritime Governance.

Over a distinguished military career spanning nearly forty years, Vice Admiral Misbah Ul Azim has carried out a wide array of command, staff, and instructional responsibilities across the naval force with notable professionalism and excellence.

His prior leadership assignments include serving as Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander Dhaka Naval Area, Commander Submarines, and Commandant of the Bangladesh Naval Academy.

He has also functioned as Director of Naval Operations and Director of Naval Plans at Naval Headquarters, in addition to helming various warships and naval shore installations.

On the international stage, Vice Admiral Misbah Ul Azim participated in United Nations peacekeeping deployments in Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Prior to assuming his present post, he represented the nation as Bangladesh's Ambassador to Oman, playing a pivotal role in deepening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Oman and safeguarding the interests of Bangladeshi expatriates.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions across nearly four decades of dedicated service, he has been decorated with the Nau Bahini Padak (NBP), Nau Parodorshita Padak (NPP), the National Integrity Award, and numerous other honors.