Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, a life-long social activist and ardent proponent of the values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, died on Thursday at the age of 80.
Jharna, the Secretary of the Gandhi Ashram Trust in Noakhali, passed away around 6:00am on Thursday at Square Hospital in the capital where she was being kept on life support, said Swadesh Roy, President of the Trust.
Born on October 15, 1938 at Lakshmipur, Jharna had dedicated her whole life to the Gandhian way of peace building.
She was conferred the Ekushey Award for her contribution to peace, communal harmony and social justice and coexistence inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's non violent creed.
She also received Padma Sree award from the government of India.
Jharna was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other old-age-related complications for long, said Director of the ashram Raha Naba Kumar.
She had a brain hemorrhage on Jun 1 and was admitted to the Square Hospital the next day.
Jharna suffered a second
hemorrhage on Wednesday and was put on the life support but did not survive.
Her coffin will be placed at the Central Shaheed Minar from 11:00am to 12 noon on Friday for people to pay their tribute to her, said Golam Quddus, President of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote.
The mortal remains of Jharna Dhara were taken to Dhaleshwari Temple on Thursday afternoon where her last rites were performed. The Gandhi Trust Ashram also paid tribute to her there.
Jharna Dhara's coffin will be kept at Square Hospital overnight before being placed at the Central Shaheed Minar.
People from all walks of life will pay their respects at the farewell ceremony arranged by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote from 11am and 12pm.
The body will then be taken to her longtime place of work, the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali where her colleagues will pay their final tributes to her.
