The 49th death anniversary of Bir Shreshtho Ruhul Amin, one of the seven greatest heroes of the Liberation War, and Bir Bikram Mohibullah was observed on Thursday in a befitting manner.
Marking the occasion, Khulna Naval Zone Commander Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa placed a wreath and presented a guard of honour at the martyrs’ memorial complex in the district, said a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Senior officials and other members of the Khulna Naval Zone were also present at the time.
Later, special prayers were offered seeking forgiveness for the souls of the heroic freedom fighters martyred in the great Liberation War of 1971 as well as for the peace, prosperity and progress of Bangladesh, the release added.
Besides, special discussions were also organised on the lives of the two martyrs and their outstanding contributions to the country’s independence.
On December 10, 1971, only six days before the country’s final victory, Ruhul Amin, Engine Room Artificer of Bangladesh Naval Ship (BNS) Palash, embraced martyrdom on the banks of the Rupsha River where he had reached after swimming around a quarter kilometer in the river from the ship.
Earlier, BNS Palash recaptured Mongla Port from the Pakistani occupation forces through a fierce gun battle. The naval ship then was advancing towards Khulna to seize the industrial city from the grasp of the Pakistan army.
As the ship approached the shipyard area, a fighter plane bombed it. Mohibullah, Bir Bikram, a staff member of the ship, was instantly killed and the rest of the naval staff jumped into the river.
Ruhul Amin managed to escape the bomb attack but he was killed by the Razakar Bahini.
The next day, Ruhul Amin along with Mohibullah was buried at Bagmara village in East Rupsha of the district.
The Khulna Development Authority (KDA) built a memorial complex at their graveyard in 1997.
The Bangladesh Navy has been supervising the complex since it was handed over by the KDA after its construction was completed.