People from all walks of life paid their last tribute to Dr Sanjida Khatun, renowned cultural personality and president of Chhayanaut, by placing wreaths on the coffin of deceased on the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban premises in the capital's Dhanmondi on Wednesday afternoon.
Her body was taken to the Chhayanaut premises around 12:30PM.
Representatives from various cultural organisations paid tributes to her by laying wreathes and signing Rabindra sangeet.
Sanjida Khatun passed away at Square Hospital in the capital on Tuesday at the age of 92.
Born on April 4, 1933, Sanjida Khatun came from a distinguished family. Her father, National Professor Kazi Motahar Hossain, was a renowned scholar, while her mother, Sajeda Khatun, was a homemaker. She was also the sister of eminent writer Kazi Anwar Hossain and the wife of noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Wahidul Haque.
Sanjida was a trailblazing figure in Bangladesh's cultural arena - a Rabindra Sangeet singer, researcher, author, musicologist, and educator. She was one of the founding members of Chhayanaut in the early 1960s and later served as its President until her demise.
She also co-founded the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad and served as the President of Nalanda, an innovative child education institution.
In 2021, the Government of India conferred upon her the Padma Shri
award. She was also honoured with the Desikottama Honorary D.Litt and
many other national and international accolades.
During the 1971 Liberation War, Sanjida was one of the founders of the Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha, which played a crucial role in boosting the morale of freedom fighters through cultural performances.
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