'Alor Ferrywala' Polan Sarkar passes away

PM, others condole death

FE Team | Published: March 02, 2019 00:16:48

Polan Sarkar

RAJSHAHI, Mar 01 (Agencies): Ekushey Padak winner Polan Sarkar, who distributed books for free among the people, passed away in his Rajshahi village home on Friday, report agencies.
The 98-year-old had been suffering from old-age complications.
He died at his village home of Bausha village in Bagha Upazila. "My father was surrounded by his family at the time of his death," his son Haider Ali said.
Polan Sarkar, who started a social movement of reading books, was affectionately called 'Alor Ferrywala', the distributor of light.
He won the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award of the country, in 2011 for building a movement for reading books by reaching those to the readers in Rajshahi villages. He used to purchase books by his own money.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow on Friday at the death of Ekushey Padak recipient Polan Sarkar.
In a condolence message, the prime minister recalled Polan Sarkar's contributions to building a movement for reading books in the country.
Sheikh Hasina prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed
profound sympathy to the bereaved family.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam expressed profound shock and sorrow due to the death of Polan Sarker.
"Polan Sarker organised an innovative education movement at twenty villages in Rajshahi," said the State minister, adding that he [Polan Sarker] distributed books among the backward village people with his own money.