Former WB Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim Dies At 80

02 November, Kolkata

Former Speaker in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and veteran CPI(M) leader Hashim Abdul Halim died of cardiac arrest this morning.

Halim, the Speaker for 29 years, had served from 1982 to 2011 in the previous Left Front governments. The octogenarian was briefly suffering from old age – related ailments like breathing trouble for a while and suffered an heart attack in his south Kolkata home, party and family sources said.

He was rushed to Ryod Nursing home where the doctors declared him dead. Family sources said his body would be taken first to the ancestral home in Kyd Street in south Kolkata where the decision will be taken for his funeral. Halim is survived by his sons.

Left Front leaders, including CPI(M) state secretary Suryakanta Mishra and Left Front chairman Biman Bose condoled the death of the veteran CPI(M) leader, who was also the first law minister of the Left Front government.

He had also served in numerous departments and committees of West Bengal.

Halim was the longest-serving speaker of any legislative assembly in India.