Eventful life of veteran parliamentarian ends

The eventful life of veteran parliamentarian and politician Suranjit Sengupta, who served the country’s politics for over 50 years, came to an end as he breathed his last on Sunday at the age of 71.

The versatile and eminent leader of Awami League was born to a sophisticated Hindu family of Debendranath Sengupta and Sumati Bala Sengupta at Anwarapur village in Derai Upazila under Sunamganj district on May 5 in 1946, BSS reports.

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.

Suranjit was member of Provincial and National Assembly and elected member of 3rd, 5th, 7th and 8th Jatiya Sangsad elections. He served as parliamentary affairs adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the 7th Jatiya Sangsad.

Suranjit was elected member as Awami League nominated candidate in the 9th JS election on December 29 in 2008. During the 9th JS, he served as chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and Co-Chairman of Constitution Amendment Committee. He also served as minister for Railways.

In the 10th JS election on January 5 in 2014, he was elected a member of parliament as AL nominated candidate. He had been serving as chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and Co-Chairman of Constitution Amendment Committee.

He had proficiency in Bangla, English, Sanskrit, Hindi and Urdu languages. He is a member of Awami League Advisory Council.

In his personal life, he married Dr Jaya Sengupta a doctorate in Bengali language and literature. Their only son Soumen received his master degree from a Canadian university. Suranjit loved to read books while outing and watching cricket.