Suranjit Sengupta’s death marks ‘end of an era’

Friends, colleagues and supporters have rushed to the Jigatala home of Suranjit Sengupta after hearing of his death.

One described the passing away of the veteran politician as the ‘end of an era’.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry died at the age of 71 while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka Hospital at 4:10 am on Sunday.

Friends, family and Awami League activists flocked to the hospital as news of his death spread.

The former minister’s body was taken from the hospital to his Jigatala home at 9am. Mourners soon gathered at the house.

A law maker from the north-eastern district of Sunamganj, Suranjit Sengupta was a witty public speaker. File photo

Among them were Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Cabinet members AMA Muhith, Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, Nurul Islam BSc, Chief Whip ASM Feroze, local MP Fazle Nur Tapash, and Awami League leaders Hassan Mahmud and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

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“Parliament has lost a great lawmaker,” said Finance Minister Muhith. “A great loss. He was a complete politician. He only had to stand in Parliament.”

Suranjit, a member of the Awami League Advisory Council, addressed the House for the last time on Jan 29.

He spoke on the UN request for foreign dignitaries to speak with the president on the formation of the Election Commission, saying the matter was not the UN’s jurisdiction.

“His work in Parliament is as old as the Parliament itself,” said Muhith. “Of his generation, only Tofail and Mr Hamid (the president) remain.”

Finance Minister AMA Muhith speaking to the media at Suranjit Sengupta's home in Dhaka.

Suranjit was one of the youngest members of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1970 and has been an MP in almost every parliament since Bangladesh’s independence.

He was a member of Bangladesh’s first committee for drafting the Constitution and also served as the co-chairman of the parliamentary panel on the 15th Amendment during the Ninth National Parliament.

“Suranjit Sengupta was not just a politician,” President Md Abdul Hamid said in his condolence message. “He played a crucial role in drafting the Bangladesh’s constitution. And, as a parliamentarian of skill and experience, he was unmatched.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh has lost an experienced politician.

"Our people have lost a patriot, our Parliament has lost an experienced politician and we have lost a leader who has been at the forefront of every progressive political movement," she said in a statement.

Obaidul Quader at the Labaid Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday morning.

Awami League General Secretary and Minister Obaidul Quader said his death has 'created a void' and it was an 'immeasurable loss.'

"He was a colourful personality in our political history. In my opinion, he is the Number One parliamentarian. His death has created a void," he told the media on Sunday at the hospital.

After paying his respects to the family at the Jigatala home, Energy Affair Adviser to the Prime Minister Tawfiq-e-Elahi said: “Suranjit Sengupta was an exceptionally keen and reasonable man with a great sense of humour. He was exemplary. We have lost a vital pillar of our politics.”

Suranjit Sengupta's body was taken to his home in capital's Jigatala from the hospital.

"He had played a vital role in drafting the Constitution. He had been vocal, even while serving as a minister, if anyone tried to attack the Parliament's independence," recalled Civil Aviation Minister Menon.

The large crowd of activists at the Jigatala home forced police to halt traffic on the nearby streets. At 12pm, the body of Suranjit Sengupta was taken to Dhakeswari Temple.

The mortal remains will be then brought to the Parliament premises, where he represented the people of Sunamganj for nearly four decades. There the president, the prime minister and politicians will pay their respects.

On Monday, he will be taken to Sylhet by helicopter, which is expected to arrive at his ancestral home around 10am. The last rites are scheduled for 3pm.

Suranjit Sengupta began his political career as a left ideologue during the pre-independence troubled times of the 60s of the last century. File photo

Among four brothers and a sister, Suranjit was the youngest. Three of his brothers have passed away before him. His sister lives in Kolkata.

Suranjit’s wife, Jaya Sengupta, works at an NGO. Showmon Sengupta is their only son. 

“As father has passed away, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now our guardian,” he told reporters. “My father worked his entire life for the good of the people, for the development of his constituency. I will try to carry on my father’s legacy.”