Parliament: The Parliament on Sunday unanimously adopted an obituary reference on veteran parliamentarian and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Suranjit Sugupta.

“The country has lost a veteran and experienced politician, eminent parliamentarian, renowned lawyer and devoted social worker at the death of Suranjit Sengupta,” said Parliament Speaker Dr. Sirin Sharmin Chaudhury as she moved the obituary reference in the House.

Later, one minute silence was observed as mark of respect to the veteran lawmaker Sunranjit Sengupta. 

Suranjit, who had been suffering from cancer, died at capital Dhaka’s LabAid Hospital at about 4:29am.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took part in the discussion on the obituary reference and paid rich tribute to the veteran parliamentarian Suranjit Sengupta for playing an important role in framing the country’s constitution as a member in the constituent assembly from the opposition bench.

She said Bangabandhu had contribution to making him (Suranjit) a good parliamentarian as Bangabandhu encouraged him to speak in the House. He (Suranjit) used to pursue non-communal and progressive politics, she added.

“In the death of Suranjit Sengupta, we have lost a veteran parliamentarian,” the prime minister added. 

Besides, as many as 32 parliament members took part in the discussion on the obituary reference on Sengupta, a sitting parliament member and a member of Awami League Advisory Council.

Taking part in the discussion, the lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches termed Sengupta a true parliamentarian who used to make the parliament sittings lively through his humorous and knowledge-based deliberations. 

They said Sengupta was an experienced parliamentarian, who fought his entire live for the cause of non-communal politics and strengthening parliamentary democracy for the welfare of the nation. 

Taking part in the discussion, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Roushan Ershad paid rich tribute to the memory of veteran parliamentarian Suranjit Sengupta as she compared him with a shinning star in the sky.

“He (Suranjit) was like as a shinning star in the sky…being a leader of the common people, he always fought for their causes,” she added.

Roushan Ershad said Suranjit was a great orator, who used to speak in the parliament for the right of all parliamentarians and making the parliamentary democracy meaningful. 

Paying glowing tribute to the memory of Suranjit Sengupta, Finance Minister AMA said Sengupta was a very popular leader in his constituency as he fought for the cause of people. 

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said the veteran parliamentarian Suranjit Sengupta was a courageous leader with firm conviction for building a non-communal Bangladesh. 

He (Suranjit) used to play his active role inside and outside parliament for upholding the country’s constitution following the brutal murder of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Amu said adding that Suranjit’s struggle was unparallel for establishing the ideology of Bangabandhu. 

Describing Suranjit as one of the best parliamentarians in the sub-continent, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said his name would be written in the history with golden letters. . 

He said Sengupta actively participated in all democratic movements of the country and worked for establishing a non-communal democratic Bangladesh in his entire life. His (Sengupta) contribution towards strengthening parliamentary democracy would be ever remembered, Tofail said. 

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said Suranjit Sengupta proved himself as a great parliamentarian through his logical deliberations on various issues. She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a great contribution to making Gupata as a great parliamentarian. 

Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said Suranjit Sengupt had been playing an important role under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the ongoing fight against militancy. He (Suranjit) was a master parliamentarian who taught many lawmakers parliamentary norms and values, he added.

Inu said the veteran freedom fighter Sengupta used to try to forge unity among all political parties through pursuing non-communal politics. We can pay true respect to him by building a non-communal society through carrying forward the ongoing fight against militancy, he said. 

“He was a total parliamentarian in terms of humor, articulation, knowledge on parliament affairs and his patriotism,” said JSD lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal. 

Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mia said Suranjit Sengupta had a checkered political career and his death is an irreparable loss to the country. He (Sengupta) played an important role in strengthening parliamentary democracy. 

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, Railways Minister M Mazibul Haque, Professor Ali Ashraf, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Chief Whip A S M Feroz, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, Whip Shahabuddin, Abdul Matin Khasru, Dr Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir, M Abdus Shahid, Abdur Razzak, Shawkat Ali, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawladar, Mohibur Rahman Manik, Abdul Majid Khan, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Rustom Ali Farazi, Mrinal Kanti Das, Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury, Peer Fazlur Rahman, Ziaul Huq Mridha also took part in the discussion. 

Sengupta also served as the railway minister during the past tenure of the Awami League government. He was a member of the then provincial assembly and constituent assembly and elected Member of Parliament in the third, fifth, seventh eight, ninth and 10th parliament from Sunamganj-2 constituency. 

The versatile and eminent leader of Awami League was born in a renowned Hindu family of Debendranath Sengupta and Sumati Bala Sengupta at Anwarapur village in Derai upazila under Sunamganj district on May 5 in 1946.

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 a 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.

He was a decorated Freedom Fighter who actively took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. 

In the 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.