Eminent essayist and educationist Prof Jatin Sarker passed away today (13 August). He breathed his last at 2:40pm at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, his son Suman Sarker confirmed to Prothom Alo.

Prof Sarker had been suffering from age-related complications for several months, along with chronic polyarthritis. In June, he underwent several surgeries. Afterwards, he was taken to his daughter’s residence in Mymensingh, but later had to be admitted to a hospital in Dhaka after his condition deteriorated. He was recently brought back to Mymensingh.

Sheikh Bahar Majumder, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district unit, told Prothom Alo around 3:30pm that the body is currently at the hospital. It will be taken to the district’s Udichi office at 4:00pm for the public to pay their respects, before being moved to his home district of Netrakona for burial.

Born on 18 August, 1936, in Chandpara village of Kendua, Netrakona, Prof Sarker was a former teacher at the Department of Bangla in Nasirabad College, Mymensingh. He was deeply involved in progressive literary movements, leftist politics, and cultural activism. He served two terms as the president of the central committee of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi.

Over his distinguished career, he was honoured with numerous awards, including the Independence Award in 2010, the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2007, the Dr Enamul Haque Gold Medal, the Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award, and the Moniruddin Yusuf Literary Award.

After more than 42 years in teaching, he retired in 2002 and returned to his roots in Netrakona with his wife Kanan Sarkar, residing in their home in the Satpai area of the district town.