Top awards-winning writer Rabeya Khatun has passed away.
The 86-year-old, who received the Swadhinata Padak and Ekushey Padak for her works, breathed her last on Sunday evening.
She passed away around 5pm at her home in Dhaka’s Banani, said private tv Channel-I, where her son Faridur Reza Sagar is the managing director.
She had been suffering from old age complications, the network said citing family sources.
The body will be kept at the Channel-I premises from 12pm on Sunday for people from all walks of life to pay their last respects to her. The funeral prayer will be held at the same venue at 3pm.
Born on December 27, 1935, Rabeya Khatun wrote over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories as of 2008, according to Wikipedia.
In 1952, she married ATM Fazlul Haque. He was the editor of the Cinema magazine. He directed “President”, the first film for children in Bangladesh.
Their other children are Keka Ferdousi, Farhadur Reza Prabal and Farhana Kakoly.
President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the demise of Rabeya Khatun.
In a condolence message, the President said, “Her death is an irreparable loss to country’s literary arena.”
Recalling her contribution to promoting the Bengali literature, Hamid said she will always be remembered for her works.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Rabeya Khatun will be remembered for her outstanding contribution to the field of literature.
She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Rabeya Kahtun's works include essays, novels, research, short stories, religious history and travelogues, for which she won the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh.
She received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973, Ekushey Padak in 1993 and the Swadhinata Padak in 2017.
Her novels include, Madhumati (1963), Mon Ek Shwet Kapoti (Mind is a White Pigeon, 1965), Ononto Onwesha (Endless Pursuit, 12967), Rajarbagh (1967), Saheb Bazar (1967), Ferari Surjo (Fugitive Sun, 1975), Onek Joner Ekjan (One of Many Persons, 1976), Jiboner Ar Ek Naam Dibos Rojoni (Another Name of Life is Day and Night, 1980), Bayanno Golir Ek Goli (One of Fifty Two Alleys, 1984), Baganer Naam Malnichara (Name of the Garden is Malnichara) Ei Birohokal (This Time of Separation, 1995), Ei Bhora Bador Mah Bhador (This Rainy Day of the Month of Bhadra, 1995), and Priya Gulshana (Beloved Gulshana, 1997)
