Dhaka – Veteran parliamentarian and ruling Awami League (AL) advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta died early hour yesterday at Labaid hospital in the capital after a prolonged battle with lung cancer.
Suranjit, one of the country’s experienced parliamentarians, breathed his last at 4:24am yesterday. He was 72. He was born on May 5, 1945, in Anawarpur area of Sunajmganj. His father’s name is Devendra Nath Sengupta and mother’s name Sumati Bala Sengupta.He was suffering from cancer which led to the collapse of his central nervous system and due to that his lung stopped functioning, Saifur Rahman Lenin, assistant general manager (corporate communications) of the Labaid hospital, told the media.
Suranjit, also the former railways minister was taken to the hospital on Friday after he felt illness. Later his health condition had deteriorated and then he was on life support at the hospital since last night. He left behind his wife, only son, host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.
The president Abdul Hamid, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, opposition leader in the Parliament Rowshan Ershad, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, and Law Minister Anisul Huq expressed deep shock at his death through separate condolence messages.
Meanwhile, after his death, the body was first taken to his Jhigatola residence where family members, relatives, AL central leaders and well-wishers paid their tributes to him.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, deputy speaker and whip, also went to the residence to convey sympathy to the bereaved family members. Among others, Mukul Bose, member of AL advisory council, Obaidul Quader, party general secretary, and Jahangir Kabir Nanak were present.
Later, Suranjit’s body was taken to the Dhakeshwari Temple in the noon where Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among others, paid tribute to him.
After paying tributes, AL general secretary said, “I am speechless, I can’t explain his personality. He was number one parliamentarian in the country. His death is an irreparable loss for the nation. It is not so easy to recuperate the loss.”
AL leader and industries minister Amir Hossain Amu said Suranjit was a knowledgeable person and could explain complex political subjects easily.
Paying tribute to the veteran Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said he was an experienced, honest and devoted politician.
Terming him a “rare” leader, the BNP secretary general said, “He placed important speeches during the country’s political crisis.
After ending rituals at Dhakeshwari temple his body was taken to the national parliament premises at 3:00pm where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid last tribute to veteran AL leader. JS Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, AL lawmakers and BNP senior leaders also paid tribute to him.
The body will be kept at the mortuary of Labaid hospital from where it will be taken to Sylhet at 9:00am on Monday and Sunamganj at 11:00am and then It will be taken to the lawmaker’s constituency Dirai upazila of Sunamganj for cremation, AL sources said.
Meanwhile, in a condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed deep shock at the death of veteran Awami League leader and recalled the checkered political career of Suranjit Sengupta, saying that his death is an irreparable loss to the country’s political arena.
“The country has lost a dedicated politician, while Awami League has lost a dedicated leader in his death,” she said. Sheikh Hasina also remembered his contributions to strengthening parliamentary democracy and said he played a significant role in framing the country’s first constitution.
The experienced parliamentarian Suranit Sengupta had an eventful political life. He served the country’s politics for over 50 years. He passed his BA (honors) and MA degrees in General History discipline from Dhaka University. Receiving LLB degree from Central Law College, he started his career as lawyer. He was member of Supreme Court Bar Association.
From his student life, Suranjit Sengupta joined politics. At the inception of his political career, he was a leader of left political party and thus began his political life with the strong connection with the leftist parties.
In 1970’s National Election of Pakistan, he was elected from the Sylhet district as a candidate of the National Awami Party in the Provincial Assembly.
He was an Honored Freedom Fighter who actively took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
In the first constituent assembly of Bangladesh, he was a vocal member of the Opposition Bench. Later, he floated and led the Ekota Party. Suranjit Sengupta joined Awami League in early 1990s. – Staff Reporter
