“All conditioned phenomena are impermanent; all formations are subject to decay.”
Venerable Bhante Sumanalankara Mahathera, former President of the Parbatya Bhikkhu Sangha Bangladesh and currently serving as the Chief Advisor of its Central Committee, passed away at 4:00 AM today at the Parbatya Buddhist Mission (PBM), the place where he had spent many years in spiritual practice and meditation.
With his passing, the Parbatya Bhikkhu Sangha Bangladesh has lost a devoted and senior member of the Sangha who dedicated his life to the propagation and practice of the Dhamma.
On behalf of PAVISBA, we offer our merits and prayers for the Venerable Bhante’s attainment of Nibbānic peace and ultimate liberation.
Venerable Bhante Sumanalankara Mahathera was born around 1949 in Tinthila village, under Langadu Upazila of Rangamati District. His lay name was Ashim Kumar Talukdar. His father was Dhirendra Lal Talukdar, and his mother was Shashi Prabha Dewan.
In 1973, he entered the monastic life as a Sāmaṇera (novice monk) under the guidance of the late Venerable Sādhanānanda Mahāthera (Banabhante), a highly respected practitioner, at Tinthila Vanavihara.
Later, in 1975, with the intention of pursuing Buddhist religious education in Myanmar, a country renowned for its Buddhist tradition, he received Sāmaṇera ordination from the Venerable Aggavamsa Bhante, the founding Rajaguru (Royal Preceptor) of the Parbatya Bhikkhu Sangha Bangladesh. In the same year, he received Upasampadā, the higher ordination as a Bhikkhu.
After completing his religious education in Myanmar, he returned to Bangladesh. In 1983, he established the Parbatya Buddhist Mission (PBM) in Kamalchhari village, located in the Khagrachhari Sadar area.
His life was devoted to the practice, preservation, and propagation of the Buddha’s teachings, as well as to the spiritual and social welfare of the Buddhist community.
