Former West Bengal minister Biswanath Chowdhury dies

Former West Bengal minister Biswanath Chowdhury died at a SSKM hospital in Kolkata here on Saturday morning, officials said.He was 82.

Biswanath Chowdhury,a key figure in the Revolutionary Socialist Party was an eight-time MLA.Chowdhury was battling been suffering for a long time with terminal disease - cancer- for which TMC supremo CM Banerjee had arranged for RSP leader admission to the government owned hospital on July 16.

Chowdhury, who represented the Balurghat assembly seat in north Bengal between 1987 to 2011 at a stretch and held the ministry for almost 25 years, breathed his last around 7:15 am today morning.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has condoled the demise of the former prison and social welfare minister Chawdhury.Banerjee also announced a half-a-day holiday at the government offices and corporations to mark the passing away of the former minister.

Chowdhury's political journey began in 1977 when he was first elected as an MLA from Balurghat. Over the years, he won the seat eight times,serving in 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006. He served as West

Bengal’s minister for Jails and Social Welfare from 1986 to 2011, significantly shaping the state's policies in these areas. Chowdhury, an alumnus of Balurghat College, lost his seat in 2011 elections to Sankar Chakraborty of the All-India Trinamool Congress.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said after hearing Chowdhury's health condition the government had arranged for his treatment at the SSKM Hospital but inspite of all efforts could not save the life of the former minister.

RSP's general secretary Manoj Bhattacharya informed that Chowdhury's body will be taken to Balurghat for last rites.(UNI)<>