Sarkar was involved in the 1969 student movement and was a former Member of Mukti Bahini during Bangladesh Liberation war. He is the President of Dimla Upazila unit of Bangladesh Awami League. He was elected to Parliament from Nilphamari-1 on 5 January 2014 as a candidate of Bangladesh Awami League. He is a Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.