Communist leader Ajoy Roy no more

Veteran leftist politician Ajoy Roy passed away yesterday in the capital. He was 88.

Ajoy, president of Sammilita Samajik Andolon, was also a coordinator of a platform against communalism and militancy. 

After a prolonged illness, he breathed his last around 5:00am. His wife Joyonti Roy was with him then. The couple have two daughters and a son.

Pankaj Bhattacharya, president of Oikya Nap and also political colleague of Ajoy, told The Daily Star that Ajoy had been suffering from several diseases for the last couple of months. He was released from Birdem hospital last week and had an appointment with doctors of that hospital for a check-up yesterday morning.

But early in the morning, he had some breathing problems. His family members took him to the Birdem hospital where doctors declared him dead, said Pankaj.

His body has been kept at the hospital. He will be buried after his daughters and son come from abroad, said Ajoy's family members.

His body would be placed at the Central Shaheed Minar between 10:00am and 11:00am tomorrow so that people from all walks of life could pay him their last respect, they added.

As per his last wish, Ajoy will be buried at his ancestral home in Kishoreganj's Katiadi.

The veteran communist leader had actively taken part in movements opposing the British rule in the sub-continent. He was also one of the organisers of Bangladesh's war of independence.

He was born on December 30, 1928, in Mymensingh. He passed his matriculation exam in 1943 with first division and then passed ISC exam from Varanasi University in India in 1945.

Ajoy came back to Kishoreganj after his parents died. He had completed his B.Com degree in 1948.

He was involved in the communist movement while studying at school in Varanasi. Returning to Kishoreganj, he started politics of the Communist Party.

During the Pakistan regime, he was in jail for around 15 years. He had to go into hiding for around 12 years at different times.

After the independence of Bangladesh, he was elected a central member of Communist Party of Bangladesh in 1973. He left the party in 1993 and founded Communist Kendra.

Several organisations, including Workers Party of Bangladesh, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Bangladesh Khetmajur Union, expressed their sorrow at the death of Ajoy, who was also a columnist.