Bangladesh's prominent Hindu politician and Awami league's veteran lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta dies

Bangladesh’s prominent Hindu politician and ruling Awami League’s veteran lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta died on Sunday after prolonged illness. He was 72.

Sengupta, who played a significant role in framing the post-independent Bangladesh’s first Constitution in 1972, breathed his last early this morning at a private hospital in Dhaka hours after he was put on life support system.

“He had been suffering from cancer for long which collapsed his central nervous system and made his lungs dysfunctional...He breathed his last at 4.29 AM today,” a hospital spokesman told reporters.

He is survived by his wife and a son.

A former railways minister, Sengupta was a member of Awami League Advisory Council and chairman of parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed their deep shock at his demise.

“Suranjit Sengupta was not only a political leader but also a veteran parliamentarian. He played a significant role in framing the county’s first constitution,” President Hamid said in a condolence message.

He said the people will remember Sengupta for his outstanding contribution to the country’s parliamentary politics but “the death of this veteran parliamentarian is really an irreparable loss to the country’s political arena”.

In her statement, Hasina recalled Sengupta’s checkered political career and said “the country has lost a dedicated politician, while Awami League lost a dedicated leader in his death”.

Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued a statement calling his demise “an irreparable loss” for Bangladesh.

Indian envoy Harsh Vardhan Shringla said Sengupta was a leader of “immense stature, standing, sagacity and dignity.  His passing away represents an immeasurable loss for the country and leaves a void.”

Sengupta made his debut in politics in left leaning National Awami Party and joined Awami League in late 1980s.

His body will be taken to the Dhakeshwari Temple and then it will be taken to the national parliament premises where people will show their last tributes to him.

Sengupta’s body will be taken to Sylhet on Monday morning and after that it will be taken to his ancestral home in Dirai upazila of Sumanganj for cremation.