Rabeya Khatun


Rabeya Khatun is a Bangladeshi novelist. As of 2008, she has written over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories. Her works include essays, novels, research, short stories, religious history and travelogues. She was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973, Ekushey Padak in 1993 and Independence Day Award in 2017 by the Government of Bangladesh.

Early life and education

Khatun was born on 27 December 1935 to Maulavi Mohammad Mulluk Chand and Hamida Khatun in Bikrampur in the then Bengal Presidency, British India. On 23 July 1952, she married Fazlul Haque. He was the editor of the Cinema magazine. He directed President, the first film for children in Bangladesh.
Khatun grew up Shantinagar area in Dhaka. She passed the entrance examination from Armanitola School in 1948.

Career

Khatun worked at Khawatin magazine, edited by Jahanara Imam. She then worked as the editor of the literature section of the magazine Cinema along with Zahir Raihan. Later she became the editor of the monthly Angana.
Khatun is a council member of Bangla Academy. She is a member of the jury board of Bangladesh National Film Awards, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Notun Kuri of Bangladesh Television.

Works

Khatun's first story Prashno was published in the weekly Juger Dabi. Her novel Rajarbagh was published in Begum. She wrote her first novel Madhumati in 1963. She wrote about the Bangladesh Liberation War in her book Ekattorer Noy Maash in 1990. Two of her novels, Nirasraya and Biday O Ashok Reba, have never been published.

Novels

Khatun's book-to-film adaptations include Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti, Megher Pore Megh and Madhumati.

Personal life

Khatun resides in Banani, a residential area in Dhaka. She has two sons and two daughters. Faridur Reza Sagar is the current managing director of Impress Telefilm Limited and Channel i. Keka Ferdousi is a television chef. Farhadur Reza Probal, is an architect. Farhana Kakoly is a homemaker.

Awards