Shining example of honesty in politics: Former MP Adv Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya passes away
Jeshore Correspondent
Advocate Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya was one of the few people in Jashore politics who symbolized honesty, ethics, struggle and sacrifice.
The veteran leader, a member of the Awami League presidium and former member of the National Parliament, passed away at 5:30 am on Thursday. He breathed his last at his rented house in Bejpara in the city. His death has caused a wave of grief in the political arena. To the people of Jessore, he will be remembered forever as not only a politician but also a man of integrity, an organizer of the heroic liberation war and a teacher of calm contemplation.
Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya was born on 1 March 1940 in Parala village of Manirampur upazila. Both his families were cultured, secular and believed in the practice of education. He was the eldest of seven siblings. His elder sister Savita currently lives in Bihar, India. His elder sister Kavita passed away many years ago. His younger sister is the wife of Paritosh Sarkar, a retired professor of chemistry at Rajshahi University; both of them currently live in Dhaka. Among the brothers, Swapan Kumar Bhattacharya was a former minister, Arun Kumar Bhattacharya was a freedom fighter, prominent lawyer and social worker. His younger brother Varun Bhattacharya was involved in agriculture and social activities in his village home.
Since childhood, Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya was talented and restless. Since there was no quality school in Manirampur, he had to come to Jessore to study. He was admitted to Khajura M.N. Mitra School and passed his SSC in 1956. Later, he was admitted to Jessore MM College and completed his IA and BA between 1957 and 1960. During his student life, he was attracted to student politics and won the student council elections. The initial foundation of his political leadership was formed during this period. However, family crises, especially the death of his father, interrupted his studies for some time. Taking on the responsibilities of the family, he returned to his studies and in 1968 obtained a master's degree in economics from Rajshahi University.
He started teaching at Mashiahati School in 1961. Teaching was his passion, sense of responsibility and the first step towards building society. After teaching there for seven years, he joined Manirampur College in 1968. After just two years, he was promoted to vice-principal and served there until 1975. Along with teaching, he gradually developed into a popular local organizer.
1966 was the turning point in the political life of Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya. This year he officially joined the Bangladesh Awami League. He started the work of expanding the organization from the union to the police station level. At that time, the Six-Point Movement intensified and he, along with his fellow fighter Dr. Nowsher Ali, roamed the villages. The Six-Point Movement, the Eleven-Point Movement, the aspirations of the freedom-loving people—he explained everything in simple language before the people. His speeches were firm, logical, and had extraordinary voice control. As a result, he became a credible face to the people.
During the 1970 election campaign, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Jessore and addressed a late-night public meeting in Manirampur.
After independence, he became active again in the political arena of Bangladesh. When Bangabandhu remembered him and asked for nomination, he participated in the election.
He joined the World Peace Conference held in Moscow in 1973 as a member of the Bangladesh delegation. Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad was the head of the delegation. He was accompanied by Professor Muzaffar Ahmed, Fazlul Haque Moni, economist Professor Sanat Kumar Saha and journalist Bazlur Rahman.
The horrific murder of August 15, 1975 turned the entire political atmosphere upside down. Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed called him to Dhaka and ordered him to join the parliament. Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya firmly rejected the order.
He was nominated in the 1986 elections but was defeated due to widespread vote rigging. At that time, the then Prime Minister Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury invited him to join the Ershad government.
He passed away peacefully at 5:30 am on Thursday. His death has left the political arena of Jessore empty.
