‘Alor Ferrywala’ Palan Sarkar dies

Ekushey Padak winner Palan Sarkar, who distributed books for free among the people, passed away on Friday, reports UNB.

The 98-year-old had been suffering from old-age complications.

He died at his home in Bausha village of Bagha upazila in Rajshahi.

“My father was surrounded by his family at the time of his death,” his son Haider Ali said.

Palan Sarkar, who started a social movement of reading books, was affectionately called “Alor Ferrywala,” the distributor of light.

He was awarded the Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh's second-highest civilian award, for his contribution to the society.