Barnali - Barua

Barnali Barua, 58, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28, at Sutter Davis Hospital in Davis, California.

Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she was the beloved daughter of Martanda Pratap Barua and Manjari Barua. Barnali earned her degree in Civil Engineering from BUET, Bangladesh, and a graduate degree in Transportation Engineering from Utah State University.

A devoted mother, she centered her life around raising her son Neelim. Her Buddhist faith was a lived conviction — expressed in compassion, meditation, and an unwavering devotion to the Dhamma. She practiced meditation, followed the Buddha’s teachings, and in a profound act of devotion, undertook a pilgrimage as a sāmaṇerī through India and Nepal, tracing the “Footsteps of Mahāpajāpatī: Honoring Women in Dhamma” alongside fellow pilgrims and ordinees.

She has now crossed to the other shore — as the Dhamma teaches, in peace, in stillness, in light.

She is survived by her husband Nisar Ahmed, her son Neelim Mollick, and a circle of family and friends whose grief is only surpassed by their love for her.

A viewing and funeral service will be held Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM at Smith Funeral Home (116 D Street, Davis, CA 95616).