Dr Swadesh Bose, a renowned economist and organiser of the Liberation War, passed away at his residence in the city yesterday at the age of 81.
He had long been suffering from Parkinson's disease. He left behind his wife, a son, two daughters, two grandchildren and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.
Born on January 2, 1928 at Kashipur in Barisal, Swadesh Bose was a member of the planning cell of the Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War. He also played active role in the anti-British movement and the language movement.
He was also the first acting director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).
Swadesh Bose got involved in the students' movement in 1944 when he was a student of BM College in Barisal.
After the partition of the sub-continent in 1947, his family members and relatives had settled in India, but he did not left the country.
In 1948, Swadesh Bose suffered imprisonment when he was only 20 for printing manifesto in support of the language movement in Barisal. The then Pakistan government had detained him in the jail for a total of eight years on charges of his involvement in various movements. He suffered inhumane torture in jail.
After his release from the jail in 1956, he completed his BA and MA in economics from the University of Dhaka.
Later, he got a job at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics in Karachi in 1961 by dint of his outstanding merit.
He did his PhD at the Cambridge University on 'Economic Co-operation Among South Asian Countries'. He then tried to publish his thesis in the form of a book, but the then Pakistani government did not give permission.
Hearing the news of the death of Swadesh, his colleagues, political friends, relatives and admirers rushed to his residence at Dhanmondhi to pay their last respects to him.
His funeral will be held after the arrival of his son and daughters from abroad. His body has been kept at the mortuary at Birdem Hospital.
In separate condolence messages, President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of economist Swadesh Bose.
"Swadesh Bose raised his voice against discriminatory economic policy of the then Pakistani regime, which inspired the freedom-seeking people of the country," the president said.
The president and the prime minister also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Acting president of Awami League Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, and leaders of Communist Party of Bangladesh, Ekattarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha also condoled the death of Swadesh Bose.