Ershad Ali died on June 19, 1944, when the Dutch cargo ship SS Garoet was struck by a torpedo and sank at the hands of a German U-boat.
The son of a Bangladeshi World War II hero wants his father's name removed from a UK memorial.
Ershad Ali, who was killed while serving in the Merchant Navy for the Allied forces, has his name memorialized at the Tower Hill Memorial in London.
His son, Ataur Rahman, 86, and his grandson, Suhel Rana, 30, both of whom live in Sylhet, Bangladesh, have long dreamed of visiting the monument to honor their fallen relative. However, the family claims the UK government denied them a visa, with a refusal letter issued in December. They now feel disrespected and discriminated against.
Mr. Rahman expressed his deep disappointment, stating that he wishes his father's name be removed from the memorial and that he wants to return his father’s medals. He added, "When I was just six months old, my father left for World War II and never came back. My greatest regret is never having met him, a pain that still lingers."
'My son Suhel found all the information about his grandfather 75 years after his death. And after fighting against the UK for three long years, he was able to get his grandfather's recognition in 2019.
'I think the visa officer deliberately rejected our application, which I consider a crime against humanity. I think they insulted not only my father but all the seamen who died in World War II.'
Ershad Ali died on June 19, 1944, when the Dutch cargo ship SS Garoet was struck by a torpedo and sank at the hands of a German U-boat.
In recognition of his service, Ershad was posthumously awarded five medals: the Burma Star, Atlantic Star, 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal, and the Dutch Mobilisation War Cross.
Mr. Rahman, his son, expressed his deep frustration: "The British Home Office has insulted my late father and our family of sailors. We feel humiliated and ashamed. I am nearing the end of my life, being 86 years old, and my final wish was to visit my father’s memorial before I die. This is no longer possible due to the British Home Office's actions. Since we have been denied respect, I see no reason for my father’s name to remain on the memorial. I call on the UK government to permanently remove his name from the monument and also from all official documents, including the Commonwealth war records."
His son, Mr. Rana, also shared his disappointment, stating: "We feel completely disrespected and discriminated against."
'We wish to send our medals back to the UK government and have all traces of [Ershad] removed from all memorials.'
Steve Belgrove, who runs Medals Lost & Found, has been trying to aid the family in getting their visa through several invitations to the pair.
However, none of their attempts have been successful.
He said: 'I am in touch with the family and have been trying to help them. They just want to pay their respects to their late grandad.
'They feel so ashamed and disrespected. They are talking about sending the medals back to the UK and having his name taken off the memorial.
'I think it is disgusting. Why put someone's name on a memorial if the families can't even go and pay their respects.
'It is disgraceful. These people died for us. I think the UK government is letting down the commonwealth.
'The grandson is a WWII geek and has visited all the memorials across the world. But the one memorial he can't get to is his grandad's.'
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