Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar passes away

Former acting president and speaker of parliament Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar passed away early today (12 July) while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital. He was 95.

He breathed his last at 4:18am at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli, UNB quoted Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon as saying.

"Sir has left us. Arrangements are being made for his funeral prayers and burial," Khokon stated, adding that the senior lawyer had been suffering from various age-related health complications for a long time.

The namaz-e-janaza of Jamiruddin will be held at 5pm today at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, reports BSS.

The BNP Standing Committee member will later be laid to rest at the designated burial site within the Jatiya Sangsad complex, according to a Parliament Secretariat press release.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed shock and sorrow at the death of Jamiruddin. 

"I express my profound grief and deep sorrow at the death of former acting president, former speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Language Movement veteran, member of the BNP Standing Committee and veteran politician Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar," he said in a condolence message this morning.

In a statement, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad also expressed deep sorrow at Jamiruddin's death, praying for the eternal peace of his soul and extending condolences to his bereaved family. 

Born on 1 December 1931 in Nayabari village of Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh, Jamiruddin Sircar completed his LLB and MA degrees at the University of Dhaka before travelling to the United Kingdom in 1961, where he was called to the bar from Lincoln's Inn. 

After returning to Bangladesh, he established himself as a prominent Supreme Court lawyer specialising in constitutional, civil and criminal law.

He served as the speaker of the Eighth Parliament from 28 October 2001 to 25 January 2009. 

During his political career, he also served in the cabinets of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia in several key roles, including state minister for public works, state minister for foreign affairs, state minister for land, education minister and law minister.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman also paid tribute, describing Jamiruddin as "a veteran politician, distinguished lawyer and a dedicated champion of parliamentary democracy."

"The nation will remember with respect his contributions to politics, the legal profession and parliamentary affairs throughout his long public life. With his passing, the country has lost a distinguished political figure," he added.

The Supreme Court also mourned his passing. In a statement, the chief justice expressed condolences on behalf of himself, judges of both divisions of the apex court and court officials, praying for the deceased and extending sympathy to his family.

As a mark of respect, the court announced that proceedings of both its divisions will remain closed during the second half of the day, while Chamber Court proceedings will remain suspended for the day.

Md Nahid Islam, opposition chief whip and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), also expressed deep sorrow over Jamiruddin's death.

In a condolence message, Nahid said Jamiruddin had been involved in politics since his student days and was among the handful of lawyers who contributed to the Liberation War.

"His experience, wisdom and impartiality in presiding over the Eighth Parliament were widely appreciated," Nahid said.

He prayed for the eternal peace of Jamiruddin's soul and extended his condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues and well-wishers.