Prominent cultural figure, Rabindra Sangeet artist, and president of Chhayanaut, Dr Sanjida Khatun, has passed away at the age of 93. She died on Tuesday (March 25) afternoon at a hospital in Dhaka, following complications from old age and various illnesses. The news was confirmed by her family.
Sanjida Khatun was a towering figure in Bangladesh's cultural landscape. She was a renowned Rabindra Sangeet artist, writer, researcher, organizer, musicologist, and educator. A founding member and president of Chhayanaut, one of Bangladesh's foremost cultural organizations, she also played a key role in establishing the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad.
Born on April 4, 1932, Sanjida Khatun was the daughter of the late National Professor Kazi Motahar Hossain, a prominent leader of the Buddhi Mukti Movement, and her mother, Sajeda Khatun.
Her lifelong dedication to the progressive development of Bengali culture made her an exceptional personality. She played a pivotal role in shaping Bengali cultural life through her involvement in the Language Movement, the Cultural Rights Movement, the celebration of Rabindranath Tagore's centenary, and the traditional Bengali New Year celebrations under the banyan tree. Through these efforts, she strengthened the foundations of Bengali identity.
Sanjida Khatun also made significant contributions during the Liberation War and in the rebuilding of Bangladesh afterwards. Her leadership and support helped establish key cultural institutions such as Chhayanaut and the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad. She was also deeply involved in the Bratachari movement and the Kazi Motahar Hossain Foundation. Moreover, she founded the innovative educational institution 'Nalanda Vidyalaya.'
Sanjida Khatun's education journey took her through Kamrunnesa School, Eden College, Dhaka University, and Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. She also served as a professor at Dhaka University.
