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Title: Reference regarding the passing away of Shri Bikash Chowdhury, a sitting member and member 12th and 13th Lok Sabha.
OBITUARY REFERENCE
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MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have to inform the House of the sad demise of our colleague, Shri Bikash Chowdhury.
Shri Bikash Chowdhury was a sitting Member of the Lok Sabha representing Asansol Parliamentary Constituency of West Bengal. He also represented the same constituency in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Lok Sabhas from 1998 to 2004.
Earlier, Shri Chowdhury was a Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for four terms from 1977 to 1996.
An able parliamentarian, he was a Member, Committee on Energy and its Sub-Committee on Coal and Consultative Committee, Ministry of Coal from 1998 to 1999. He was also a Member, Committee on Energy from 1999 to 2000 and Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Mines and Minerals from 2000 to 2004. He was presently Member of the Committee on Coal and Steel.
A social activist, a leader of the masses, well-known political leader closely connected with the movement of the coal miners and he was associated with a large number of trade unions. He was also a Member of the West Bengal State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for a long number of years. He organised several literacy centres and was closely associated with folk theatrical performances through the Yatra Samitis.
He was also the President of the Vidya Sagar Charcha Kendra. He had to his credit several articles on the subjects of coal, land and politics.
In his demise, the country has lost a votary of the working class and the masses.
Shri Chowdhury passed away this morning in New Delhi at the age of 73.
We deeply mourn the loss of this friend and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family.
The House may now stand in silence for a short while as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
11.01 hrs
The Members then stood in silence for a short while.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, as was decided in the meeting of the hon. leaders, I announce that the House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, the 2nd August, 2005.
11.02 hrs The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock
on[r1] Tuesday, August 2, 2005/Sravana 11, 1927 (Saka).
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