Sanjida Khatun, one of the founding members and president of Chhayanaut, has passed away at 92.
The prominent cultural figure, Rabindra researcher, and musician breathed her last at 3:10pm on Tuesday in the ICU of Square Hospital in Dhaka.
She had been under treatment at the hospital for the past week.
Her death was confirmed by her daughter-in-law and Chhayanaut General Secretary Laisa Ahmed Liza.
Sanjida’s death has left the cultural community in deep mourning, with Chhayanaut expressing profound grief over the loss.
Born on April 4, 1933, Sanjida was the daughter of Kazi Motahar Hossain, a national professor, and Sajeeda Khatun, a homemaker.
She completed her undergraduate degree in Bangla Language and Literature from Dhaka University in 1954, followed by a master’s degree from Visva Bharati University in India in 1955. She earned her PhD in 1978.
Her career began in academia, with Sanjida serving as a professor in the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University for several years.
Throughout her distinguished career, she earned recognition and numerous awards for her contributions to the field of literature and music.
Among the most notable honours she received were the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Rabindra Smriti Award (West Bengal, India), and the Deshikottama Award (West Bengal, India).
In 1988, Kolkata’s Tagore Research Institute conferred upon her the title of "Rabindra Tattacharya," and in 2019, she was awarded the Brac Bank-Samakal Literary Award for her essay collection, "Nazrul Manas."
In 2021, the government of India honoured her with the prestigious Padma Shri award.
Sanjida Khatun's contributions to the cultural and academic landscape of Bangladesh will remain deeply etched in history.
