Centenarian Buddhist foremost religious leader and Ekushey Padak winning social worker Sangharaj Jnanashree Mahathero died in Chattogram on Thursday.
Bangladesh Bouddha Samiti publicity and publication secretary Tushar Kanti Barua said that the monk died at 4:40pm while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the port city.
His body would be taken to Binajuri Shmashan Bihar in Raozan upazila at 8:00pm.
Sanghadana will be held there on Friday morning.
His body is scheduled to be casketed on November 18.
Born on November 18, 1925 to Premlal Barua and Bala Barua at North Gujra Domkhali village in Raozan upazila, he was named Loknath Barua at birth. 聽
He entered monastic life in 1944, taking the name Sraman Jnanashree.
From the age of 25, he became involved in social welfare activities, establishing eight orphanages and several educational institutions.
Sangharaj Jnanashree Mahathero was a co-founder of the Tripitaka Propagation Board in 1964.
In 1976, he was elected general secretary of Bangladesh Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha (The Supreme Sangha Council of Bangladesh).
He was appointed deputy Sangharaj of Bangladesh Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha in 2004.
Thailand鈥檚 Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2007 and the Myanmar government conferred on him the title Agramahapandita in 2023.
Following the death of the 12th Sangharaj, Dharmasen Mahasthavir, the council appointed him the 13th Sangharaj at its assembly on March 25, 2021.
He received Ekushey Padak in 2022 for his contribution to social service.
Jnanashree Mahathero was the chief of Chattogram Buddhist Monastery at Nandankanan in the city.
