Ekushey Padak and Independence Award winning writer Rabeya Khatun died on Sunday at the age of 85.
The writer breathed her last at her Banani residence in Dhaka at about 5:00pm, said Channel-i press and publication department general manager Habibul Huda adding that she had been suffering from old-age complications.
Her body will be kept on the premises of Bangla Academy at 12:00pm and 2:00pm at Channel-I on Monday for paying last tributes, Habibul said.
Rabeya would be buried at Banani graveyard after a namaz-e-janaza.
Rabeya Khatun was born on December 27, 1935 to Maulavi Mohammad Mulluk Chand and Hamida Khatun in Bikrampur, now in Munshiganj. She was the second child among her three siblings.
Rabeya made her mark in Bangla literary scene by writing novels like Shaheb Bazar, Mon Ek Shet Kapoti, Pherari Shurjo, Anekjoner Ekjon, Jibaner Arek Naam, Dibash Rajani, Mohor Ali, Shei Ek Basantey, Pakhi Shob Korey Rob, Neel Nishit, Bayanno Golir Ek Goli and others.
For her contribution to Bangla literature, Rabeya Khatun received Ekushey Padak in 1993 and Independence Award in 2017.
Besides, she also received numerous awards including Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973, Humayun Kadir Memorial Award in 1989, Kamar Mushtaree Shahitya Puraskar in 1994, Lekhika Sangha Award in 1994, Nasiruddin Gold Medal in 1995, Shere-e Bangla Gold Medal in 1996, Jasimuddin Award in 1996, Shapla-Doyel Award in 1996, Wrishiz Shahitya Padak in 1998, Sheltech Award (2002), Uro Shishu Shahitya Award in 2003, Michael Madhusudan Award in 2005, Gettanjali Shommanona Padak in 2015.
