TURA: Well known Garo politician from Bangladesh and Minister of Social Welfare Pramode Mankin , passed away on Wednesday morning at around 3:30 am.
Mankin was taken ill in 2014 but fell bedridden since the first week of April this year finally losing the battle for life.
Promode Mankin was born into a respectable Garo family at Ramnagar village in Bakaljora Union under Durgapur Upazila in Netrokona District on 18 April in 1939. His father was late Megha Tozu and mother Hridoy Cecelia Mankin. He is the fifth among his eight brothers and sisters.
He married Momota Areng, on January 29 in 1964, the eldest daughter of late Joakim Ashakra, an eminent Garo leader and former Union Parish chairman under Durgapur Upazila in Netrokona District. Mankin is survived by his wife, five daughters and a son.
Promode Mankin acquired Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Dhaka Notre Dame College in 1963. He obtained Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree from Mymensingh Teachers Training College in 1968 and LLB from Mymensingh Law College in 1982. He was a Member of Mymensingh District Bar Association.
Pramode was involved in politics since his student life. He was directly engaged in politics through joining Bangladesh Awami League in 1991. He was presently the President of Haluaghat Upazila Awami League as well as a Member of Mymensingh District Awami League.
A representative of Garo and Christian community, Promode Mankin was the founder convener of national based social organization, the Tribal Welfare Association. He was also performing the responsibilities of the central President of the organization.
At the beginning of his career, Promode Mankin worked as a school Teacher and later involved himself in law profession as well as NGO activities. He performed his duty as the Regional Director of Mymensingh Region of Caritas Bangladesh from 1987 to 1990. He was also the former Vice President of Coordinating council on Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB), the Cooperative Credit Union League of Bangladesh (CCULB) and a Director of Bangladesh Samabaya Bank (Govt.).
He played an important role in the Liberation War in 1971 as an organizer. During the Liberation War, he performed his responsibilities with utmost sincerity to look after 50,000 Refugees at Shibbari Refugee Camp in Meghalaya, India.
Promode Mankin was elected Parliament Member from Mymensingh Constituency (Haluaghat Dhobaura Upazila) in the Ninth Jatiya Sangsad elections held on December 29 in 2008 on Awami League ticket. Earlier, he was also elected Parliament Member in 1991 and 2001 from same Party.
The lone elected Parliament Member from Garo and the Christian community of the country, Promode Mankin was appointed State Minister for Ministry of Cultural Affairs on July 31 in 2009 to September 15, 2012. He was holding the post of State Minister for Ministry of Social Welfare at the time of his demise.
Bishop of Tura Andrew Marak has condoled the death of Promod Mankin,
“Death of Mankin has deeply saddened me. He was a good, most prominent and popular Catholic political leader of Bangladesh. May his soul rest in peace and May the Almighty God bless and comfort the bereaved family during this time of grief”, the Bishop said in a message.
Leader of Citizens Forum for Peace, North Garo Hills Dolly K Sangma also condoled his death.
