Eminent poet, literary editor and cultural figure Jahanara Arzu, recipient of the prestigious Ekushey Padak, passed away at her residence in the capital’s Gulshan on Monday.
Born on 17 November 1932 in Jabra village of Manikganj district, then British India, Jahanara Arzu was the daughter of Afil Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Khodeja Khatun. She was 94 and had been suffering from various age-related ailments for several years.
She is survived by her sons Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Md Jahinul Islam, daughter Professor Marina Zaman, grandchildren, and numerous admirers. Her late husband, Justice AKM Nurul Islam, served as Bangladesh’s vice-president, chief election commissioner, law minister, education minister and a High Court judge during Pakistan’s era.
Jahanara Arzu began her literary journey at a young age. While in eighth grade, she published a handwritten magazine titled Anjali Mor Gunjarani, and her first poem appeared in 1945 in the Mukul-er Mahfil section of the Azad newspaper. She went on to contribute regularly to literary periodicals such as Saugat, Mohammadi, Begum, Millat and Ittehad.
She played a pioneering role in literary editing as the founding editor of Sultana, the first women-run weekly in East Pakistan, later co-editing it alongside poet Sufia Kamal.
She also served as joint editor of Parikrama, chief editor of the TB Association’s biweekly Health Bulletin and contributed to the literary magazine Setubandhan. Through these roles, she championed women’s literary activism and cultural awareness.
Jahanara Arzu’s poetry, celebrated for its simplicity, emotional depth, and humane sensibility, explored themes of love, nature, humanity and society. Notable works include Nilshopno, 1962, Roudro Jhora Gan, 1964, Shobuj Shobuj Obuj Mon, Amar Shobde Ajanmo Ami, Krondoshi Atmoja, Badol Megh-e Madal Baje and Shonitokto Akhor.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Bengali literature, she received the Ekushey Padak in 1987 among a total of 26 literary awards throughout her lifetime. Her works continue to inspire readers and future generations.
Her first funeral prayer was held today after Maghrib at Azad Mosque in Gulshan, and the second after Isha and Taraweeh prayers at her ancestral village at Khalilpur under Harirampur in Manikganj district, where she will be buried beside her husband.
