TMC MP Haji Sk. Nurul Islam Passes Away; Mamata Banerjee Expresses Grief For A Social Leader

Haji Sk. Nurul Islam, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Basirhat, has passed away, as confirmed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.

Islam, a prominent Muslim leader within the TMC and a dedicated social worker, represented Basirhat in the Lok Sabha.

Banerjee expressed her condolences, highlighting his efforts for the upliftment of poor communities in the remote Sundarbans region. "Sad to know of the demise of my valued colleague, Haji Sk. Nurul Islam, MP of Basirhat. He was a dedicated social worker, particularly in backward regions. People of Basirhat will miss his leadership," Banerjee shared on social media.

Islam, 60, had a long and eventful political career that spanned nearly 25 years. He began as a Gram Panchayat Samiti member from Bahera village, North 24 Parganas, between 2003 and 2008. He later became a member of the Zila Parishad in 2008, before winning the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in 2009, defeating CPI's Ajay Chakraborty by over 60,000 votes. His political rise continued as he successfully contested the Haroa seat in the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections and retained it in 2021.

In 2024, Islam replaced TMC MP Nusrat Jahan, who had previously secured the Basirhat seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Islam won the 2024 election with a margin of over 330,000 votes, defeating BJP's Rekha Patra.

Though respected for his dedication to social work, Islam's career was not without controversy. He was accused of inciting communal violence during the 2010 Deganga riots, which led to an FIR being filed against him. Despite this, his legacy as a leader committed to the welfare of the marginalized in his constituency remains significant.

Islam's passing marks the loss of a key figure in West Bengal's political landscape, particularly in Basirhat, where his leadership left a lasting impact on the lives of many.