Razia Khan

Razia Khan Amin is a Bangladeshi writer, poet, and educationist who established herself as a prominent figure in literature and journalism. She worked as a theatre actor and a columnist for various newspapers throughout her life.

Early life and education

Khan was born in 1936 in the Faridpur District. Her father, Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan, served as a politician and a social activist. After completing her initial studies, she earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English from the University of Dhaka. She later traveled to the University of Birmingham to pursue higher studies through a scholarship provided by the British Council.

Her literary journey began early. At the age of 18, she wrote her first novel, Bot tolar Upannayash, which was published in 1958.

Career

Khan held several professional roles within the media and academic sectors. She joined the editorial board of the Pakistan Observer, a publication that later became known as The Bangladesh Observer. Following her work in journalism, she transitioned into academia as a faculty member for the Department of English at the University of Dhaka. Her creative output includes a wide range of novels such as Anukalpa in 1959 and Proticitra in 1975. She also authored Citra-kabya in 1980 and He Mohajibon in 1983.

Her bibliography continues with Draupadi in 1992 and Padatik in 1996. Other works attributed to her include Brhastonir, Shikhor Himaddrir, and Bandi Bihongo.

Personal life

Khan married Anwarul Amin Makhon, who was the second-eldest son of Nurul Amin, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Anwarul Amin Makhon served as the general manager of BCCI Bangladesh and opened the first overseas branch of Bangladesh Bank in London. The couple raised two children, Kaiser Tamiz Amin and Aasha Mehreen Amin. Kaiser Tamiz Amin works as a banker, while Aasha Mehreen Amin is a journalist.

Awards and recognition

The writer received several prestigious honors for her contributions to letters and education. She won the PEN Lay Writing Award in 1956 and the Pope Gold Medal in 1957. In 1975, she was honored with the Bangla Academy Literary Award. Her accolades continued with the Qamar Mushtari Gold Medal in 1985 and the Ekushey Padak in 1997, which the Government of Bangladesh awarded for her work in education.

She also earned the Lekhika Sangha Gold Medal in 1998. Later honors included the Druhee Katha-Shahityak Abdur Rouf Choudhury Memorial Award in 1999 and the Anannya Literature Award in 2003.