Advocate Basanta Kumar Das, the First Speaker of Assam in British India

Sangram Datta: When we turn the pages of history, we find many individuals remembered not merely as politicians, but also as social reformers, education enthusiasts, and humane leaders. One such luminous personality was Advocate Basanta Kumar Das (1883–1965). Though born in Sylhet, his career spanned across Kolkata, Assam, East Pakistan, and eventually reached the international stage.

From lawyer to Speaker of Assam, Finance Minister of East Pakistan, Federal Minister of Education and Labour in Pakistan, and finally President of the International Labour Organization (ILO)—his life was as diverse as it was extraordinary.

Childhood and Education

Basanta Kumar Das was born on 2 November 1883 in Negal village under Sylhet Sadar Thana. His father was Sharatchandra Das.

A bright student from the very beginning, he passed the Entrance Examination in the First Division from Sylhet Government Pilot High School in 1904.

1906 – Passed Intermediate of Arts (IA) from MC College, Sylhet.

1908 – Graduated from Calcutta University.

1910 – Obtained a Bachelor of Law (BL) degree from Calcutta University.

Beginning of Legal Career

After completing his studies, he joined the Sylhet Bar in 1910.

In 1913, he briefly entered government service as a Munsif (junior magistrate), but resigned in 1915 to return to legal practice.

His reputation grew rapidly in 1921, when he conducted two major cases—the Kanai Ghat riot case and the Maijgaon case—which earned him both trust and admiration from the people.

In 1922, he was elected President of the Sylhet Bar Association.

Entry into Politics

Das entered the political arena in 1921 by joining the Indian National Congress.

In 1923, he joined Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das’s Swaraj Party and was elected a member of the Assam Legislative Council.

During the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1932, he was imprisoned for two years.

Contribution to Assam Politics

On 7 April 1937, when Gopinath Bordoloi became the Premier of Assam, Basanta Kumar Das was elected the first Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

On 11 March 1946, he resigned from the Speaker’s post, but within weeks (on 11 February 1946) he was appointed Home Minister in Bordoloi’s Cabinet.

During the Sylhet Referendum of 1947, he was serving as the Home Minister of Assam.

When communal riots broke out in Noagaon under Lakhai Thana of Habiganj district in 1947, he led a Peace Mission along with 16 other Congress leaders, playing a decisive role in restoring harmony.

The Pakistan Phase

With the establishment of the Pakistan National Congress in 1948, he became its President in East Pakistan.

In 1954, he was elected to the Pakistan Parliament from Congress.

On 20 June 1955, he became the Finance Minister in the provincial cabinet of Abu Hussain Sarkar.

On 16 December 1957, he joined the central cabinet of Feroz Khan Noon as Federal Minister of Education and Labour.

During this tenure, he attended the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

In 1958, he was elected President of the ILO.

However, on 7 October 1958, he resigned from the Pakistan central cabinet.

Political Setbacks

On 4 September 1959, President Ayub Khan imposed the Elective Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO), which declared Basanta Kumar Das and 43 other political leaders ineligible for public office.

This list also included Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Khwaja Nazimuddin, Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, and Dhirendranath Datta, among others.

Following this political ban, Das gradually withdrew from active politics.

Final Years

Towards the end of 1960, he went to Kolkata for medical treatment.

After prolonged illness, he passed away on 19 January 1965 at his son’s residence in Kolkata.

During the Indo-Pakistan war, his residence at Chalibandar in Sylhet town was confiscated under the Enemy Property Act.

In 1983, however, local social workers established a primary school in that house, naming it Basanta Shishu Academy (Bishika). Later, with the cooperation of the district administration, a four-storied building was constructed, and the institution was renamed “Basanta Memorial School.”

Conclusion

The life of Advocate Basanta Kumar Das is itself a history. He was a brilliant lawyer, a Congress leader, the first Speaker of Assam, Finance Minister of East Pakistan, Federal Minister of Pakistan, and President of the International Labour Organization. His career stretched from Sylhet to Geneva, embodying both national and international impact.

Despite enduring imprisonment, political struggles, and setbacks, he never ceased working for his country, society, and people.

Though his name may not be frequently invoked in today’s historical discourse, his legacy continues to live on through Basanta Memorial School in Sylhet—an enduring symbol of his ideals and humanity.