Following the Noakhali riots, Dutta served as the president of Tippera District Relief, Rescue and Rehabilitation Committee, that was created to aid the victims of the riot. In 1954, he was elected to the East Pakistan Provincial Legislative Assembly. In 1956, he served in the Basic Principles Committee which framed the first constitution of Pakistan. From August 1955 to September 1956, he served as the Law Minister of Pakistan under Prime Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali. He converted his home into a hostel for women, Mrnalini Chhatri-Nibas, named after his wife Mrinalini Datta.