Mohammad Ruhul Amin

Ruhul Amin (Bengali: রুহুল আমিন; 1935–1971), was an engine room artificer in the Bangladesh Navy who was posthumously awarded the Bangladesh's highest bravery award, Bir Sreshtho, for his service during the Liberation War.[2]

Ruhul Amin
রুহুল আমিন
BornJune, 1935
Baghcapra Gram, Sonaimuri Upazila, Noakhali, Chattogram Division, East Pakistan
DiedDecember 10, 1971(1971-12-10) (aged 35–36)
OccupationEngine Room Artificer
Known forFreedom Fighter[1]
AwardsBir Sreshtha

He was killed on 10 December 1971 while onboard BNS Palash which was sunk in a friendly fire by Indian Air Force (IAF).[3]

Early life

Bir Shrestho Ruhul Amin was born in 1935 at Bagpanchra village under what is now Sonaimuri Upazila of Noakhali district.[4] His father was Mohammad Azhar Patwari and mother was Zulekha Khatun.

Involvement in the Liberation War
Ruhul Amin's tomb

At the start of Bangladesh Liberation War with Operation Searchlight, Amin immediately resigned from Pakistan Navy and left "PNS Comilla" at Chittagong and came back to his village.[3] He organized local youths and soldiers for the war. At May, he along with 500 others joined at Sector-3 under Major K M Shafiullah. Later he enrolled at Palash, a warship of Bangladesh Navy and at the same time worked as the Squadron leader for both Padma and Palash.

On 10 December, an accident occurred at the Rupsha river in Khulna.[5] Two of the warships of the Mukti Bahini named "Padma" and "Palash" mistakenly came under fire from the Indian Air Force as it crossed the river Rupsha near the Khulna shipyards. Earlier that day, Indian Air Force fired at different places of Khunla city. Incidentally one of those bombs had fallen at the warship "Palash". Ruhul Amin was working as an artificer of that ship. Both ships caught fire.[6] As a result of heavy bombing, the engine room in the warship caught fire and Ruhul Amin tried to extinguish it, ignoring orders to abandon the ship. A shell exploded which caused his death.[3] Another report suggest he swam ashore and was killed by Razakars.[4]

Legacy

Ro Ro Ferry Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin was named after him.[7] The Bangladesh Navy warship BNS Shaheed Ruhul Amin is named after him.[4] Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Sarani is a road in Saidpur cantonment, Saidpur, nilphamari which is named after him.[8] Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong is named after him.[9]

He had three daughters and two sons. His youngest son lives in poverty and struggles to make a living.[10]

References
  1. "War heroes honoured". The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. Zahir, Qazi Sajjad Ali (2012). "Amurl=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Amin,_Birsrestha_Mohammad_Ruhul". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. "Day to remember a Bir Shreshtha". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. "Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin's death anniv today". New Age. Dhaka. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. "Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Day observed in Noakhali". englishnewsbd.com/. English News Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. BN History. "During Liberation War". Bangladesh Navy. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  7. "Traffic chaos before Eid". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  8. "Trust Bank Limited". atm.web.com.bd. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  9. "Stadium / Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium". The Cricket Sport. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  10. "Bir Shreshtha's only son passing woeful days". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 June 2015.


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