SHILLONG: Former minister and NPP candidate from Phulbari Manirul Islam Sarkar passed away in Guwahati on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. He was 53.
Sarkar is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
His funeral will be held at Phulbari at 10am on Monday.
Sarkar’s brother and GHADC MDC Rahibul Islam Sarkar from Shyamnagar said on November 1, he had survived a major heart attack and was admitted to a Guwahati hospital.
Later on November 9, he went to Chennai and after a successful operation he returned to Phulbari on November 17 and was there for 10 days.
Since he needed more rest, he decided to stay in Meghalaya House in Guwahati. Around 4.30 pm on Sunday, he suffered another cardiac arrest.
Though he was taken to the hospital, the doctor there declared him dead.
After serving as a school teacher, Sarkar had in 1993 contested and won the Assembly election as an Independent candidate.
However, in the next term in 1998, he lost to AT Mondal, who is the present Assembly Speaker.
Later in 2003, he contested and won on Congress ticket by defeating Mondal.
Besides serving as chairman of Meghalaya Transport Corporation, he was inducted as a Cabinet minister holding the portfolios of agriculture and transport.
He had unsuccessfully contested against Mondal on a Congress ticket in 2008 and on Samajwadi Party ticket in 2013.
Sarkar and his supporters joined NPP before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and extended support to late PA Sangma.
For the 2018 polls, NPP had allotted ticket to him to contest from Phulbari.
Condolences
Assembly Speaker AT Mondal on Sunday condoled the death of Sarkar and recalled his contribution in the House and his services to the State. He also conveyed condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of all the legislators.
Condoling Sarkar’s death, NPP national president and Tura MP Conrad Sangma said, “It is very sad to know about the sudden demise of Sarkar. He was like a brother and friend.”
In a separate statement on Sunday, NPP spokesperson and legislator James Sangma said the party is deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Sarkar.
“Sarkar was an invaluable part of the NPP family who made so many contributions to the growth of the party. It is a great and irreparable loss for the party as we have lost not just a great leader but also a friend and mentor,” James said.
The party also offered prayers and condolences to the bereaved family.
