RAJSHAHI, March 2, 2019 (BSS) – Ekushey Padak laureate Polan Sarker laid to eternal rest at his family graveyard at Baosha village under Bagha upazila in the district this morning.
Earlier, his namaje janaja was held at Harunur Rashid Shah High School playground. He died of old-age complications yesterday breathed his last Friday at the age of 98.
Harez Uddin known as Polan Sarker, won Ekushey Padak in 2011 for his book reading campaign. He became famous for his life-long endeavour to distribute book among local people by visiting door to door to promote the reading habit among people.
In 2008, he built a library on his own land at his village with assistance from Rajshahi Zilla Parishad. The library now has five different book distribution points at different villages.
Following his ideology, some youths of his village joined him to raise the book reading campaign.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended among the villagers as his death news spread and the people who loved him thronged at his home to have a last glimpse.
According to locals, Sarker was born in Bagatipara upazila under Natore district on September 10, 1921, but the death of his father forced her mother to move to her parents’ house in Bagha of Rajshahi.
Raised without a father, he could barely complete his primary education. But his thirst for knowledge was unquenchable.
He covered about 20 villages in Rajshahi spurring an innovative reading revolution in the region.
Local government officials, public representatives and a large number of people joined the janaza.