Novelist Rabeya Khatun no more

Eminent novelist Rabeya Khatun passed away on Sunday evening at her Banani residence.

She was 86.

Rabeya Khatun breathed her last at 5:00pm after suffering from multiple old-age complications for a long time, Channel I’s programme department general manager Amirul Islam told Prothom Alo.

Rabeya Khatun’s two sons Faridur Reza Sagar and Forhadur Reza Probal are currently abroad. She will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard on Monday afternoon.

President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep sorrow over the death of Rabeya Khatun.

Rabeya Khatun’s work includes novels, short stories, travelogues and memories.

Although she was known as a novelist, Rabeya Khatun was also involved with teaching and journalism.

During her stint as a journalist, Rabeya worked with the daily Ittefaq and 'Cinema' magazine. She was also editor of a women's monthly named ‘Angana’ in the 50's.

Rabeya Khatun was born to Maulavi Mohammad Mulluk Chand and Hamida Khatun in Bikrampur.

She was married to late Fazlul Haque on 23 July 1952. He was the editor of the 'Cinema' magazine. He also directed the first film for children in Bangladesh named ‘President’.

Rabeya Khatun got different prestigious awards including Bangla Academy Literary Award, Humayun Qadir Smriti Puroshkar, Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh Lekhika Sangha Puroshkar, Nasir Uddin Gold Medal, Jasim Uddin Puroshkar.