Rabeya Khatun (27 December 1935 – 3 January 2021) was a Bangladeshi novelist. She wrote over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories. Her works also include essays, research, religious history and travelogues. She was awarded

Bangla Academy Literary Award The Bangla Academy Literary Award (; ''Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar'') is given by the Bangla Academy of Bangladesh in recognition of creative genius in advancement and overall contribution in the field of Bengali language and literature. ...

in 1973,

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak () is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of martyrs of the Bengali language movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and e ...

in 1993 and

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

in 2017 by the

Government of Bangladesh The government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh () is the central government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Constitution of Bangladesh comprising the executive (the president, prime minister and cabinet), the ...

. Khatun died of cardiac arrest on 3 January 2021 at her residence in Gulshan,

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...

Early life and education

Khatun was born on 27 December 1935 to Maulavi Mohammad Mulluk Chand and Hamida Khatun in

Bikrampur Bikrampur (lit. City of Courage) was a historic region and a sub-division of Dhaka within the Bengal Presidency during the period of British India. Located along the banks of the Padma River (a major distributary of the Ganges), it was a sign ...

in the then

Bengal Presidency The Bengal Presidency, officially the Presidency of Fort William in Bengal until 1937, later the Bengal Province, was the largest of all three presidencies of British India during Company rule in India, Company rule and later a Provinces o ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

(now in

Munshiganj District Munshiganj District () is a district of Dhaka Division. It is located in central Bangladesh. This region is also historically known as Bikrampur. Geography It is a part of Dhaka Division and borders Dhaka District and Narayanganj District in the ...

, Bangladesh). She was the second of their three children. Khatun grew up in the Shantinagar area in

. She passed the

entrance examination In education, an entrance examination or admission examination is an examination that educational institutions conduct to select prospective students. It may be held at any stage of education, from primary to tertiary, even though it is typica ...

from Armanitola School in 1948. On 23 July 1952, she married Fazlul Haque (1930–1990). He was the editor of the ''Cinema'' magazine. He directed ''President'', the first film for children in Bangladesh.

Career

Khatun worked at ''Khawatin'' magazine, edited by

Jahanara Imam Jahanara Imam (3 May 1929 – 26 June 1994) was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is known for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. She has been called "Shaheed Jan ...

. She then worked as the editor of the literature section of the magazine ''Cinema'' along with

Zahir Raihan Mohammad Zahirullah (19 August 1935 – disappeared 30 January 1972), known as Zahir Raihan, was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is most notable for his documentary '' Stop Genocide'' (1971), made during the Bangladesh Liberatio ...

. Later she became the editor of the monthly ''Angana''. Khatun was a council member of

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy (, ) is the official regulatory body of the Bengali language in Bangladesh. It is an autonomous institution funded by the Government of Bangladesh that fosters the Bengali language, literature and culture, works to develop an ...

. She was a member of the jury board of

Bangladesh National Film Awards The National Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony held annually in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is considered to be the most significant film award ceremony in Bangladesh. The National Film Awards were established in 1975 by the government of Ba ...

Bangladesh Shishu Academy Bangladesh Shishu Academy () is the national academy for children in Bangladesh. It was established in 1976 by Ziaur Rahman for promoting cultural development of children, and nurturing their talents. On 8 August 2024, after the fall of Sheikh ...

, '' Notun Kuri'' of

Bangladesh Television Bangladesh Television (), commonly known by its acronym BTV (), is the state-owned television network of Bangladesh. The network was originally established as the East Pakistan branch of Pakistan Television Corporation, Pakistan Television in 1 ...

Works

Khatun's first story ''Prashno'' was published in the weekly ''Juger Dabi''. Her novel ''Rajarbagh'' was published in ''

Begum Begum (also begüm, bagum, begom, begam, baigum or beygum) is an honorific title from Central Asia, Central and South Asia, often used by leading women in society, including Royal family, royals, aristocrats, first lady, first ladies and prime ...

''. She wrote her first novel ''Madhumati'' in 1963. She wrote about the

Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...

in her book ''Ekattorer Noy Maash'' in 1990. Two of her novels, ''Nirasraya'' and ''Biday O Ashok Reba'', have never been published.

Novels

Source: * Nirashraya helterless (Unpublished)* Biday arewell (Unpublished)* Ashok-Reba shok-Reba (Unpublished)* Madhumati (1963) adhumati (1963)* Saheb Bazar (1965) aheb Market (1965)* Ananta Anwesha (1969) nfinite Quest (1969)* Razarbagh Shalimarbagh (1969) azarbagh Shalimarbagh (1969)* Mon Ek Shwet Kapoti he Mind is a White Dove* Ferari Surya (Muktijuddho Bhittik) he Fugitive Sun (Based on Liberation War)* Onekjoner Ekjon ne Among Many* Jiboner Ar Ek Nam nother Name of Life* Dibos Rajoni ay and Night* Sei Ek Bosonte hat One Spring* Mohor Ali (1985) ohor Ali (1985)* Neel Nishith (Muktijuddho Bhittik) ark Blue Night (Based on Liberation War)* Bayannor Golir Ek Goli (1984) n Alley of the 52 Alleys (1984)* Pakhi Shob Kore Rob ll the Birds Make Noise* Noyona Lake-e Rupban Dupur eautiful Afternoon at Noyona Lake* Mid Summer-e

n Midsummer N, or n, is the fourteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages, and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...

* E Bhora Badar Mah Bhador (1988) his Rainy Month of Bhadra (1988)* Se Ebong Jabatyo e and All That Exists* Hanifer Ghora anif's Horse* Hiron Dah (1995) Muktijuddho Bhittik urning of Hiron (1995) Based on Liberation War* Ei Birohokal (1995) his Time of Separation (1995)* Muktijuddher Uponyas Samagra ollected Novels of the Liberation War* Hotel Green Button (1995) otel Green Button (1995)* Chander Fota Drop of Moonlight* Nirbachito Premer Uponyas elected Love Novels* Baganer Nam Malnichhora (Muktijuddho Bhittik) he Garden Named Malnichhora (Based on Liberation War)* Priyo Gulshana (1997) ear Gulshana (1997)* Bosonto Bhila (1999) pring Villa (1999)* Chhaya Romoni he Shadow Woman* Soundarya Sangbad (1999) he Beauty Report (1999)* Hridoyer Kacher Bishoy (1999) atters Close to the Heart (1999)* Ghatok Ratri (1999) he Murderous Night (1999)* Shreshtho Uponyas est Novels* Malinir Dupur alini’s Noon* Rongin Kacher Janala olorful Glass Window* Megher Por Megh (Muktijuddho Bhittik) loud After Cloud (Based on Liberation War)* Ja Kichu Aprotashito ll That is Unexpected* Durey Brishti ain in the Distance* Sakin O Mayataru akin and the Magical Tree* Ramna Park-er Panch Bondhu ive Friends of Ramna Park* Shudhu Tomar Jonno nly for You* Thikana B H Tower ddress: B H Tower* Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti ometimes Clouds, Sometimes Rain* Prothom Boddhobhumi he First Killing Field* Komolika omolika* Doshti Uponyas en Novels* Shonkho Shokal Prokriti onch, Morning, Nature* Ja Hoyna hat Doesn’t Happen* Akashe Ekhono Onek Raat here is Still Much Night in the Sky* Uponyas Samagra ollected Novels* Swonirbachito Uponyas elf-Selected Novels* Jagotik orldly* Swopne Songkramito nfected in Dreams* O Ke Chhilo ho Was He* Moha Proloyer Por fter the Great Destruction* Nirbachito Uponyas elected Novels* Shohorer Shesh Bari he Last House in the City* Nosto Jyotsnar Alo ight of Spoiled Moonlight* Maigo h Mother* Samudrabon O Pronoy Purush cean-Forest and the Lover Man* Ei Dah his Burning* Raima aima

Based on Liberation War

* Ekattorer Noy Mash 'Nine Months of '7''1* Ekattorer Nishan 'The Flag of'' '71

Uponyas Somuho

''Ferari Surya, Megher Por Megh, Hiron Dah, Baganer Nam Malnichhora''

Adaptations

Khatun's book-to-film adaptations include ''

Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti '' Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti'' () is a 2003 Bangladeshi film directed by actress Moushumi. It was the first film she directed. It stars Moushumi, Ferdous, Razzak, Bobita, Humayun Faridi and Shahidul Alam Sachchu. Shooting wrapped up in Augu ...

'' (2003), ''

Megher Pore Megh ''Megher Pore Megh'' (, meaning ''Clouds After Cloud'') is a 2004 Bangladeshi Bengali-language feature film directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam. It is an adaptation of the novel ''Megher Pore Megh'' by '' Rabeya Khatun, based on the events of the Ba ...

'' (2004) and ''Madhumati'' (2011).

Personal life

Khatun lived in Banani, a residential area in

. She had two sons and two daughters —

Faridur Reza Sagar Faridur Reza Sagar (born 22 February 1955) is a Bangladeshi writer and film producer. He is also the managing director of Impress Telefilm Ltd and Channel i. He was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2005 and Ekushey Padak in 2015 by ...

(b. 1955) is the current managing director of

Impress Telefilm Limited Impress Telefilm Limited is a media production house in Bangladesh, formed in 2003. The company produces film, drama, and drama serials, music videos, variety shows, magazine programmes, musical programmes, and documentaries as well as TV commerc ...

and

Channel i Channel i () is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by Impress Group. It was launched on 1 October 1999, as Bangladesh's first digital television channel. It is one of the oldest satellite television chan ...

;

Keka Ferdousi Keka Ferdousi (born 4 August 1960) is a Bangladeshis, Bangladeshi Celebrity chef#Television celebrity chefs, television chef and author. Early life Ferdousi was born on 4 August 1960, in Dhaka to Fazlul Haque, a film producer, and Rabeya Khatun ...

(b. 1960) is a television chef; Farhadur Reza Probal is an architect; and Farhana Kakoly.

Awards

(1973) * Humayun Kadir Memorial Award (1989) *

(1993) * Kamar Mushtaree Shahitya Puroshkar (1994) * Lekhika Sangha Award (1994) * Nasiruddin Gold Medal (1995) * Shere-e Bangla Gold Medal (1996) * Jasimuddin Award (1996) * Shapla-Doyel Award (1996) * Wrishiz Shahitya Padak (1998) *

Anannya Literature Award Anannya Literature Award () is the prize for women in Bangladesh recognition of contribution to the field of literature by Anannya Magazine in every Bengali year since 1401 (Gregorian 1993). Winners References Bangladeshi literary awards ...

(1999) * Laila Samad Award (1999) * Millennium Award (2000) * Sheltech Award (2002) * Uro Shishu Shahitya Award (2003) * Michael Madhusudan Award (2005) * Gettanjali Shommanona Padak (2015) *

(2017)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Khatun, Rabeya 1935 births 2021 deaths People from Bikrampur Bangladeshi short story writers Bangladeshi women novelists Bangladeshi women writers Recipients of Bangla Academy Award Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Recipients of the Independence Award