Condolences and tributes continue to pour for veteran left-leaning politician and 1971 freedom fighter Pankaj Bhattacharya, who passed away overnight at a private hospital in the capital at 83.
Immediately after his demise, people from all walks of life as well as different political parties and leaders expressed their shock and conveyed condolences.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Pankaj and prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Besides, different ministers, state ministers and noted politicians as well as renowned personalities and organizations also expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Pankaj.
Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Advisory Council Member and 14-Party alliance coordinator and spokesperson Amir Hossain Amu, AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader,
Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal General Secretary and former industries minister Dilip Barua, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Fouzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi President Professor Badiur Rahman and General Secretary Amit Ranjan Dey and Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) President M Hafizuddin Khan and General Secretary Badiul Alam Mozumder were among who condoled the death of Pankaj.
In their condolence messages, they recalled the contributions of Pankaj Bhattacharya to the great Liberation War as one of the organisers of Guerrilla Force and his active involvement in all mass movements of the country, including the student movements in the 60s.
They prayed for salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Pankaj was a vice-president of Student Union and later he became the executive president of the organization before the independence. Later, he formed a platform named Sammilito Samajik Andolan and also founded the Oikya National Awami Party, known as Oikya NAP in 2010.
Born in Noapara in the Raozan Upazila of Chattogram in 1939, Pankaj studied at different institutions in Dhaka and Chattogram when he was appreciated also as a good footballer and cultural activist alongside his role as a student political worker.
He was expelled from Chattogram Collegiate School in 1959 due to his involvement with the student movement.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha