Educationist Jatin Sarker passes away

Renowned writer and educationist Jatin Sarker passed away at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. He was 90 years old.

Jatin, a winner of the Independence Award, breathed his last at around 2:45pm at the hospital, said assistant director of Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (Admin) Dr Main Uddin.

He had been suffering from different old age complications including polyarthritis.

A few months ago, he underwent surgery for multiple health issues.

After partial recovery, he had been living at his home in Netrokona.

In June, he suffered a fall while bringing a newspaper from the veranda outside his bedroom, resulting in a right femoral neck fracture.

Later, he was initially admitted to a hospital in Dhaka and later transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on August 8, where he had been in intensive care.

Born on 18 August 1936, in Chandpara village of Kendua upazila in Netrokona, Jatin was the eldest son of Gyanendra Chandra Sarker and Bimala Bala Sarker couple.

He is survived by his son and daughter and host of relatives to mourn his death.

Jatin, a former professor in the Bangla Department at Nasirabad College in Mymensingh, was deeply engaged in literary pursuits, leftist politics and progressive movements throughout his life.

He served two terms as the President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi.

He received the Independence Award in 2010, the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2007 and the Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award in 2005 for his book "Pakistaner Janmo-Mrityu Darshan".

His awards also include the Dr Enamul Haque Gold Medal, the Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award and the Moniruddin Yusuf Literary Award.

After retiring in 2002 from over four decades of teaching, he returned to his ancestral home in Netrokona with his wife, Kanon Sarker, driven by a deep connection to his roots.

Sheikh Bahar Majumder, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mymensingh District unit, said Jatin’s body will be kept at the Udichi office in Mymensingh city at 4pm today for paying last respects.

Later, the body will be taken to his hometown in Netrokona for the final rites.