"Ekushey Padak" winner and foremost Buddhist religious leader of Bangladesh Satyapriya Mohathero passed away in Dhaka.
Satyapriya, 89, died while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the early hours of Friday.
He was suffering from old-age complications for long and admitted to BSMMU on September 15.
President Abdul Hamid expressed his condolences on Satyapriya's death.
In a condolence message, the president expressed deep shock at his death. He also prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family.
The prominent Buddhist leader embraced the monk life in 1950. He took over as the president of the Bangladesh Sangharaja of Bhikkhu Mahasabha, an association of senior Buddhist monks, in 2006 before the title of deputy Sangharaj was conferred on him.
Satyapriya won the Ekushey Padak in 2015 for his contribution to the society. He was revered for sheltering people regardless of caste, creed and color in the Ramu Central Shima Bihar during the 1971 Liberation War.
Satyapriya's mortal remains were taken to the Ramu Central Bihar where his body will be preserved for the next one week.
He was born in Ramu of Cox’s Bazar on June 10, 1930. Earlier, Satyapriya was known as Bidhu Bhushan Barua. His father’s name is late Harakumar Barua and mother Premmoye Barua.
