Published : 12 Jul 2026, 03:33 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:24 AM
Veteran politician and former speaker of the National Parliament, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, has passed away.
He died at 4:18am on Sunday while undergoing treatment at the Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli, according to Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
"Sir has left us. He had been receiving treatment at the hospital," Khokon said.
"He had been suffering from various age-related complications for a long time."
He was 94.
He is survived by one daughter, Nilufar Jamir, and two sons, Naushad Jamir and Naufel Jamir. His eldest son, Barrister Naushad Jamir, is the current member of parliament from the Panchagarh-1 constituency.
Barrister Sircar served as the speaker of the 8th National Parliament.
He also served as acting President of Bangladesh. Following the resignation of then-president Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury during the BNP government in 2002, Sircar, as speaker of parliament, assumed the responsibilities of acting president from Jun 21 to Sept 6, 2002.
Born on Dec 1, 1931, in Nayabari village of Panchagarh’s Tentulia, Sircar was the son of Maulvi Muhammad Aziz Baksh.
He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Dhaka. He later completed an LLB and obtained the qualification of barrister-at-law from Lincoln's Inn in London.
After completing his education, he enrolled as an advocate of the then East Pakistan High Court and began practicing law on May 27, 1960. He became a distinguished constitutional, civil, and criminal law expert at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Sircar began his political career during his student years with left-wing organisations. In 1945, he joined the then Student Federation. He later became associated with the Student Union and the National Awami Party (NAP) led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani.
He was a founding member of the Awami Muslim League and a close associate of Maulana Bhashani.
Sircar was also a founding member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Before the formation of the BNP, he was associated with Jatiya Ganatantrik Dal (Jagodal), established by former president Ziaur Rahman. After the BNP was founded, he became a member of its highest policymaking body – the National Standing Committee - and remained in that position until his death.
Recognised as one of Bangladesh's leading legal minds, Sircar represented Bangladesh at the United Nations General Assembly five times between 1977 and 1981, having been appointed by president Ziaur Rahman.
During the 1971 Liberation War, he was among the High Court lawyers who actively supported Bangladesh's struggle for independence.
In president Ziaur Rahman's cabinet, Sircar served as state minister for public works and housing. During his tenure, the construction of the National Parliament Building was completed.
He later served as state minister for foreign affairs under president Abdus Sattar. Following the 1991 general election, he became state minister for land in prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia's cabinet, and subsequently served as minister for education and minister for science and technology.
In the short-lived government formed after the 6th parliament, he served as minister for law from Mar 19 to Mar 30, 1996. During that period, he introduced the caretaker government bill in parliament.
He served as speaker of the 8th National Parliament.
Sircar was first elected to parliament in 1979 from the Dinajpur-1 constituency as a BNP candidate. He was later elected from Dhaka-9 in 1991, and from Panchagarh-1 in the February 1996 6th parliamentary election, the June 1996 7th parliamentary election, and the 2001 8th parliamentary election. During the 9th parliament, he was elected in a by-election from the Bogura-6 constituency.
Beside his distinguished political and legal career, Sircar was also an education enthusiast and an accomplished author.
His published works include “Gonotontrer Uttpatti O Kromobikash”, “Ek Nojore Sangsad Samporkito Bidhibidhan”, “London e Shikkhajibon”, “The Law of the Sea”, “London e Chhatra Andolon”, “Bangladesh e Gonotontrer Uttaran O Digbaji”, “Glimpses of International Law”, “Paul Raj Theke Palashi”, “British Raj theke Bangabhaban”, “The Law of International Rivers and Other Watercourse”, and “Stronger United Nations for Peaceful Welfare World”.
His death has cast a shadow of mourning over Bangladesh's political and legal communities. Many people have been visiting his residence in Dhanmondi to pay their final respects.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep sorrow at Sircar's passing and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul. BNP Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Nazrul Islam Khan also expressed their condolences.
