Lost in parliamentary history: Siris Chandra Chattopadhyay, Pakistan’s first opposition leader

In Pakistan's parliamentary history, certain figures have long been overlooked. One such individual is Siris Chandra Chattopadhyay, whose contributions remained in the shadows for 75 years.

Now, the National Assembly of Pakistan has officially recognized his role as the first Leader of the Opposition in the country's initial legislative assembly.

In a symbolic move, his photograph has now been placed in the gallery of opposition leaders at the Parliament House in Islamabad, a long-overdue tribute to his legacy.

The recognition of Chattopadhyay’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s parliamentary history was made possible by the efforts of Syed Shamoon Hashmi, the Special Secretary at the National Assembly Secretariat. Hashmi led a rigorous research effort to identify Chattopadhyay and secure his place in the country’s official parliamentary records.

Born in Dhaka, Chattopadhyay was a Bengali civil servant and politician from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. Nukta

Zafar Sultan, Director General Media at the National Assembly of Pakistan, confirmed that Hashmi’s research, along with the backing of senior officials, played a critical role in bringing this forgotten leader into the public eye.

Hashmi shared details of this process with Nukta, explaining that during preparations for the 75th anniversary celebrations of Pakistan’s parliament, the need arose to acknowledge historical figures who had been sidelined.

Hashmi discovered Siris Chandra Chattopadhyay's name and participation in the proceedings of the first legislative assembly through documents and speeches found in the National Assembly’s library. These records confirmed Chattopadhyay's role as the Leader of the Opposition during Pakistan’s formative years.

Legislative assembly members who signed the members' register on August 10, 1947.Nukta

According to Hashmi, there were no photographs or images of Chattopadhyay available in the parliamentary libraries. His team eventually located a picture of him in the archives of Daily Dawn. That image was framed and now hangs alongside other opposition leaders in the gallery of the Parliament House.

Born in Dhaka, Chattopadhyay was a Bengali civil servant and politician from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. His role as the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Congress Party during Pakistan’s early years established him as a key opposition figure. Evidence of his leadership includes his speeches during the early sessions of the Legislative Assembly, in which he represented the interests of East Pakistan.

Despite his significant role, Chattopadhyay’s legacy had been neglected for decades. After leaving for what is now Bangladesh before 1956, neither he nor his family have been traced. Efforts are ongoing to contact the government of Bangladesh to recover more details about his life and contributions.

Hashmi stressed the importance of historical accuracy, noting that when the founder of Pakistan recognized Chattopadhyay’s role as the opposition leader, it should not have been forgotten. His work seeks to ensure that the contributions of this significant figure are preserved and respected in Pakistan's parliamentary history.