Government renames four Coast Guard ships named after the four national leaders

The government has changed the names of four Bangladesh Coast Guard ships that were named after the four national leaders. Another Coast Guard ship named "Joy Bangla" has also been renamed. In total, the names of five Coast Guard ships have been changed.

The information about the renaming came to light from a letter of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday. The letter mentioned the new names of the five ships.

The four people after whom these ships were named were the four main pillars of the Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War. They were Syed Nazrul Islam, the acting president of the Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War; Tajuddin Ahmad, the prime minister; Captain M Mansur Ali, a cabinet member; and A H M Kamaruzzaman.

November 3 was Jail Killing Day, a painful day in the nation’s history. On the night of November 3, 1975, these four leaders were killed in the dark of night while imprisoned in Dhaka Central Jail. The ships named after them have now been renamed.

According to Coast Guard sources, the four people after whom the four ships have been given new names were all officers of the Bangladesh Navy. They were martyred while conducting operations at home and abroad.

The decision to change the names is being debated. Critics say the brave naval officers certainly deserve respect. But they cannot understand why that respect must be shown by removing the names of the four national leaders. In their view, the naval officers could have been honoured through some other original idea.

Earlier, an exhibition on the four national leaders at the Liberation War Museum was also postponed. The museum authorities said that although preparations for the event were in place, the police expressed concern that an attack might take place there, so they took this decision in the interest of security.

The postponement of the exhibition has also raised questions. Many are asking why the police fear an attack at an exhibition on the four leaders. And if there was such a fear, why the exhibition was closed instead of making preparations to prevent such an attack.

Critics believe that the two consecutive incidents essentially disrespect the four national leaders. In their view, these four national leaders have not yet received due respect under any government. If even the little respect they had received is taken away, it will remain in history as a bad precedent.

November 7 is a particularly important day in Bangladesh’s political history. In a time of extreme political instability, against the backdrop of a military coup and disorder, an unprecedented gathering of soldiers and people took place on this day in 1975.

After the renaming decision took effect, there is no longer any ship in the Coast Guard fleet named after the four national leaders. The new names now honour martyred officers of the Navy.

The debate over this decision continues. It is expected that there will be further discussion on the question of respect for the history of the Liberation War and the four national leaders.