The Bangladesh Navy was started in November, 1971 with regular members of the Navy. The ‘Bangabandhu Naval Fleet’ was inaugurated on Tuesday, November 9, 1971 in Satkhira and Khulna with six small engine-powered vessels seized by the Pakistani forces.
A number of passenger launches were brought from the vicinity of the Sundarbans and the port of Mongla by naval commandos and Bengali sailors in September at the Naval Detachment in Hasnabad, 24 Parganas, India. It was well known as Captain Beg. Lieutenant Badre Alam was in charge there (he was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant during the war).It is learned that these ships later patrolled the southern border of Satkhira district.
The names of 6 ships of Bangabandhu Navy are:
👉 Bangabir
👉 Bangavidyut
👉 Bangashaurya
👉 Bangabajra
👉 Bangashakti and
👉 Bangashardul
It may be recalled that Sector 9 of the War of Liberation was formed from the Daulatpur-Satkhira road to the southern part of Khulna and the entire Barisal and Patuakhali districts. The commanding base of this sector was at Taki near Basirhat in India. Major Jalil was the first commander of the sector.
In his book ‘Boundless War’, he mentions,
‘The launches under me soon became known as’ Bangladesh Navy’. At the end of September, 6 motor launches were procured in my navy. These were snatched from the enemy. It is better to equip them with weapons and use them in the form of gunboats than to keep them engaged only for transportation. The Commander-in-Chief immediately agreed to inform Colonel Osmani of my plan. Then, with the sincere efforts of Commander Mukherjee, I convinced the Indian Army and brought 50 Browning anti-aircraft machine guns for 6 launches. I deployed ten sailors on each launch to operate light machine guns and small arms.’
In this two and a half minute long video clip, one of the gunboats of Bangabandhu Navy ‘Bangashakti’ and another (name not seen) gunboat are visible. According to Reuters, on November 26, the two gunboats left the liberated area of Satkhira for Khulna with arms and freedom fighters. The flag of the independent country was seen flying in the free zone at that time.
(Information courtesy: Naval Commando Late Md. Khalilur Rahman
‘Naval expedition in the war of liberation’ – Commando Md. Khalilur Rahman
‘Boundless War’ – Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil).
Translation Credit: Our heartiest gratitude goes to Sreemoyee Mazumder, for her wonderful and kind support.