Former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral (Retd) Sarwar Jahan Nizam passed away on Friday morning at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. He was 73.

According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the retired naval chief died at 9:15 a.m., and members of the Bangladesh Navy, including the current Chief of Naval Staff, have expressed deep grief over his passing.

His Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Zuhr prayers on Saturday at the Bangladesh Navy Headquarters mosque in Dhaka. Following the prayers, he will be laid to rest with full military honours at the Banani Military Graveyard.

Born on November 2, 1952, in Anwara upazila of Chattogram district, Nizam joined the Bangladesh Navy as a sub-lieutenant on June 1, 1973, marking the beginning of a distinguished naval career that spanned more than three decades.

Throughout his service, Vice Admiral Nizam held several key command and staff positions, earning recognition for his professionalism, discipline, and leadership. On February 10, 2007, he assumed charge as the Chief of Naval Staff, during which he led efforts to modernize the Navy and enhance its operational capabilities.

Colleagues and defence officials credit him with playing a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh’s maritime security and expanding the Navy’s strategic reach. Under his leadership, the force took significant steps toward fleet modernisation and greater self-reliance in defence capabilities.

The ISPR release described him as a leader who served “with patriotism, professionalism, and integrity” and who made “notable contributions to the protection of the country’s sovereignty.”

Vice Admiral Nizam is survived by his wife, daughter, and a host of admirers.