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Saturday | November 07, 2026 | Dhaka

Fallen navy heroes honoured

Four vessels named after servicemen who died in the line of duty
 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 07 November 2026

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has renamed four of its vessels after four Bangladesh Navy personnel who lost their lives while serving the country, honouring their sacrifices in military service and United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Another vessel has been renamed ‘Adamya Bangla’, meaning ‘Indomitable Bengal’.

The four vessels have been named BCGS Nurul Islam, BCGS Firoz Kabir, BCGS M. Humayun Kabir and BCGS Ashraf Siddiqui.

The renaming has drawn public attention, prompting widespread interest in the identities and contributions of the individuals being honoured.

An inquiry reveals that all four were members of the Bangladesh Navy who died in the line of duty under different circumstances.

Two were killed while serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions, one went missing after his vessel encountered a severe storm in the Bay of Bengal, and another was murdered by terrorists while serving on deputation to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Nurul Islam: Killed in Congo
Leading Seaman (CD) M. Nurul Islam was a Navy diver and explosives expert serving with the Bangladesh contingent (BANBAT-2) under a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Republic of the Congo.

On February 25, 2005, he was killed in an ambush by militia forces while on patrol. In recognition of his sacrifice, the United Nations posthumously awarded him the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.

Firoz Kabir: Lost at sea
Lieutenant Commander Firoz Kabir was the commanding officer of Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Shaheed Farid.

In September 2006, his vessel encountered a severe storm in the Bay of Bengal.

While trying to assist his crew, he was swept away by a massive wave and went missing.

Despite an extensive search and rescue operation by the Navy, his body was never recovered.

Humayun Kabir: Murdered in Aminbazar
Senior Chief Petty Officer M. Humayun Kabir was serving on deputation as a Deputy Assistant Director of RAB-11.

In March 2007, while carrying out intelligence duties in plain clothes near Aminbazar in Savar, he and another RAB member were abducted and subsequently murdered.

Ashraf Siddiqui: Killed in South Sudan
Instructor Lieutenant Commander M. Ashraf Siddiqui was an officer in the Education Branch of the Bangladesh Navy and served as a Military Liaison Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

On June 26, 2018, he was killed when an armed group attacked a UN convoy near the town of Yei.

Following a funeral prayer (janaza) at ‘Choppers Den’ in Dhaka Cantonment, he was laid to rest with full state honours.

The United Nations later posthumously awarded him the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal in recognition of his service and sacrifice.