Ekushey Padak winner Polan Sarkar, who distributed books for free among the people, has died.

The 98-year-old had been suffering from old-age complications. He died at his village home of Bausha village in Bagha Upazila around 12:20pm on Friday. 

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

He won the Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh’s second-highest civilian award, for his social activities.

Confirming the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, his son Haider Ali said: “My father was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. He was 98 years old. His namaz-e-janaza will be held at 10am on Saturday on the Harun-ar-Rashid High School premises.”

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has expressed condolences over the death of Polan Sarkar.

Born in 1921, Polan Sarkar’s real name was Harez Uddin. He had been distributing books on foot to students and villagers free of charge for the past 30 years. Polan also gifted books to meritorious students.