Bir Uttam CR Dutta no more

Chitta Ranjan Dutta, Bir Uttam, popularly known as CR Dutta, one of the sector commanders of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War, passed away today. He was 93.

The veteran freedom fighter breathed his last at 9:30am today at a hospital in Florida in USA, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad, told The Daily Star.

CR Dutta was president of the Parishad.

He left behind two daughters, a son and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Citing CR Dutta's daughter Kabita Dasgupta, Rana said one of CR Dutta's legs was broken on Friday from a fall. He was rushed to a hospital in Florida and was kept on life support yesterday when his condition deteriorated, Rana said.

"We are trying to bring back his body to Bangladesh," he said.

Born in 1927, Dutta's ancestral village is under Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj district.

In 1947, Dutta joined the Pakistan Army. During the 1965 India-Pakistan War, then Lt Col Dutta served as a Battalion Commander in the East Pakistan Rifles.

During the Liberation War, Dutta became the commander of Sector 4, which covered the whole of the present Sylhet division and some adjoining areas.

After the war, in 1972, Dutta was appointed as brigade commander in Rangpur. In 1973, He became the first Director General of Bangladesh Rifles.

He served as the president of Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad.