DHAKA, – General Secretary of Gandhi Ashram Trust Jharna Dhara Chowdhury died of old age complications at a city hospital in the early hours today, hospital sources said.

She was 81.

She dedicated her whole life to the Gandhian way of peace building and development and acted as General Secratary of Gandhi Ashram Trust at Joyag, Noakhali.

She was conferred the Ekushey Award for her contribution to peace and coexistence. She also received Padma Sree award from Govt of India.

Born on October 15, 1938 at Laxmipur, Jharna has devoted her whole life to promoting peace, communal harmony and social justice, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent creed.

She was moved by Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, self-reliance and community work, and decided to follow in his footsteps.