Ex-MP Bharati Nandi Sarker dies, PM mourns death

Valiant freedom fighter Bharati Nandi Sarker, former Member of Parliament (MP) from reserved seat for women, died at a hospital in Dinajpur district in the early hours of Friday. She was 73.

Bharti, a resident of Baragurgola in Dinajpur town, breathed her last at M Abdur Rahim Medical College and Hospital around 1:00am while undergoing treatment there.

She is survived by two sons along with several well wishers.

Her eldest son Shekhar Kumar Sarker confirmed about her death.

She was admitted to the hospital about 10 days ago with different physical complications.

Bharati Nandi Sarker was born at Gurgola in Dinajpur town in 1948. She took part in the War of Liberation against the Pakistani occupation forces in 1971. She was a Member of Parliament from the reserved seats for women in Dinajpur from 1996-2001. Earlier, she was the first woman commissioner of Dinajpur Municipality from 1974 to 1978. Since 1975, she had served as the president of Dinajpur district Mohila Awami League and former vice-president of the central committee of Bangladesh Krishak League for about 23 years.

She was a presidium member of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Okya Parishad from its inauguration to 2015. She was also a former teacher at St. Joseph's School in Dinajpur.

Bharati's cremation was held with state honour at 11:30am on Friday at the Fultala Crematorium in Dinajpur city where her body was given a guard of honour.

Iqbalur Rahim, MP of Sadar (Dinajpur-3) constituency, has expressed deep grief and shock over her death.

 
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of former MP and freedom fighter Bharati Nandi Sarkar.

In a condolence message, she prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Bharati Nandi's husband Mihir Kumar Sarkar was a leader of AL Dinajpur district unit.

SZA