Staff Reporter: Iftekhar Rahman Swapan, a Boston expatriate close to Sheikh Jamal, the second son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has died (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Raziun). He died at his home in Medford around 10:30 pm on Monday, July 6, local time in Boston. He was seriously ill with pancreatic cancer for a long time. He was 66 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, as well as numerous relatives and friends.
According to family sources, Swapan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. He was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for about six months. Sometimes he used to come and go home. A few months before his death, his condition worsened and he was re-admitted to the hospital and given chemotherapy.
Swapan Bangabandhu was employed as a security guard in the house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during his lifetime. At that time Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s second son Sheikh Jamal became very close to him. That is why Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman loved and cherished Swapan, said Iftekhar Rahman Swapan.
He immigrated to the United States in 1991. When he came to the United States 29 years ago, he was granted political asylum. He has been living in the United States ever since. He was in New York for the first 6 years. He has been living in Medford, Massachusetts since 1998. Swapan was born in 1954 at Guptapara in Rangpur. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Lalmatia area of Dhaka.
The death of Iftekhar Rahman Swapan has cast a shadow of mourning over the expatriate Bangladeshis in Massachusetts. Leaders and activists of various social organizations including Bangladesh Association of New England (BAIN), Boston Bangladesh Buddhist Association, New England Awami League and BNP have expressed their grief separately. At the same time, he expressed his condolences to the bereaved family. The late Swapan was the vice-president of the New England Awami League.
BP/SM
