Doctor who saved many lives in Bangladesh liberation war, dies

Rathin Datta, a famous Indian surgeon, who played a vital role in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 by saving many freedom fighters' lives, died in Kolkata on Monday.  

The Padma Shri awardee surgeon, 89, breathed his last after a prolonged illness. He is survived by a son and a daughter, Outlook reported.  

According to the Health Department officials, Datta tirelessly took care of "Mukti Yoddhas" (freedom fighters) of Bangladesh as well as Indian soldiers during the 9-month war for Bangladesh's independence. 

"For his invaluable services, he was given Mukti Yoddha Maitri Sanmanana (friendship award) by the Bangladesh government in Dhaka in 2012. He was conferred Padma Shri in 1992 by the Indian government," the official said.  

Datta, who was director and special secretary of the Tripura Health Services until 1992, was born in Assam''s Mangaldoi in 1931. 

He studied at Shillong (Meghalaya) and Dibrugarh Medical College in Assam. After that, he went to London for the Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS). 

Offering his condolences, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, "He was a legendary surgeon and good administrator of the Tripura Health Services. He along with his team was responsible for creating medical infrastructure in Tripura. His humanitarian contribution during 1971 Bangladesh liberation war was familiar both in India and Bangladesh."