Mohammad Ruhul Amin BS (; June 5, 1935 – 10 December 1971) was an engine room artificer in the Bangladesh Navy who was posthumously awarded Bangladesh's highest military award, Bir Sreshtho, for his service and bravery during the Liberation War.
He was killed on 10 December 1971 while on board BNS Palash, which sank after being bombed by the Pakistani Air Force.
Early life
Ruhul Amin was born in 1935 in Bagpanchra, Sonaimuri Upazila, Noakhali district. He organized local youths and soldiers for the war. In May, he along with 500 others joined Sector-3 under Major K M Shafiullah. Later he enrolled on Palash, a warship of the Bangladesh Navy and at the same time worked as the squadron leader for both warships Padma and Palash.
The successful attacks throughout Operation Kilo Flight led to only three Pakistani aircraft surviving. On 10 December 1971, during the concluding days of the Bangladesh Liberation War, an incident occurred at the Rupsha river in Khulna. In a successful campaign of the allied Bangladesh and Indian naval forces, after freeing Jessore, the ships were advancing towards capturing the Titumir naval base from the Pakistan Navy. Two of the warships of the Bangladesh Navy/Mukti Bahini named Padma and Palash saw 3 fighter jets as it crossed the river Rupsha near the Khulna shipyard. The Indian captain thought they were Indian planes so he ordered not to fire at them, but the planes suddenly started bombing the ships of Mukti Bahini. Ruhul Amin was working as an artificer of Palash. Both ships caught fire. As a result of heavy bombing, the engine room in the warship caught fire and in a bid to save the ship, Ruhul Amin tried to extinguish it, ignoring orders to abandon the ship. But the engine room was under fire again and another shell exploded which injured Ruhul Amin which convinced him to abandon the ship. He jumped into the water and swam ashore but was attacked and killed with bayonets by the awaiting Razakars.
Legacy
Ro-ro ferry Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin was named after him. The Bangladesh Navy warship BNS Shaheed Ruhul Amin is named after him. Until 2005, Bir Shrestho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chittagong was named after him.
He had three daughters and two sons.