Major General (retd) Chitta Ranjan Datta (Bir Uttam), commander of Sector Four during the Liberation War, passed away of old age complications Tuesday morning. He was 93.
The freedom fighter, also known as CR Dutta, breathed his last while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Florida, USA, at 9:30am (Bangladesh time).
General secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad Rana Dasgupta confirmed the news to the media.
President M Abdul Hamid today expressed profound shock and sorrow at CR Dutta's demise.
In a condolence message, the President recalled with due respect the outstanding contribution of the Liberation War hero and said, “the nation will remember CR Dutta, Bir Uttam forever.”
The head of the state prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of CR Dutta.
“The country as well as the nation will remember his outstanding contribution to the Liberation War with due respect,” the premier said in a message of condolence.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
CR Dutta was born on January, 1, 1927 in Shillong, Assam. His ancestral village of Mirashi was in erstwhile Sylhet district, presently in Chunarughat Upazila of Habiganj District in Sylhet Division of Bangladesh.
Dutta joined the Pakistan Army from the last unified batch of the Indian Military Academy in 1947. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in a Piffer unit with a majority of Punjabi Muslim & Pathan jawans. He was one of the few Hindu officers to opt for Pakistan.
During the 1950s & 1960s, he commanded a Rifles Platoon, served as Adjutant of a Rifle Company (1954-57) and commanded an Infantry Company as Major (1957-60), but did not get command of a Combat Arms Battalion as was the unofficial practice in Pakistan Army toward Hindu officers.
CR Dutta was a key sector commander of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. After independence, he served as the commander of the armed forces in Rangpur and later went on to become the first Director-General of the Bangladesh Rifles (present-day Border Guards Bangladesh) in 1973.
He was awarded with the 'Bir Uttam' honour for his outstanding contribution in the Liberation War.
Dutta was a prominent minority rights advocate in Bangladesh. He was also the president of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad.
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