It is my sad duty to inform you all that Dr. Razia Khan Amin, ULAB's first Head of English and Humanities, passed away last evening, December 28, 2011. Her namaz-e-janaza will take place Thursday, December 29, 2011, following Zohr prayers, at the Dhaka University Mosque.

Dr. Amin is widely acknowledged as one of the finest professors of English at the University of Dhaka. She was a direct teacher of many of the senior faculty of English, including ULAB's own current Head of English and Humanities, Professor Mohit ul Alam. Her obituary, published in today's Daily Star, is copied below.

Please join me in expressing ULAB's community's deepest condolences at her passing.

Best wishes,

Professor Imran Rahman
Acting Vice Chancellor

Prof Razia Khan passes away
Staff Correspondent

Dr Razia Khan Amin, an eminent litterateur and English professor at Dhaka University, passed away in a city hospital last night at the age of 75.

She had been ill for quite some time.

Prof Razia Khan Amin, daughter of distinguished politician and social activist Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan, is survived by her husband, a son, and a daughter.

Born in 1936, Razia Khan started writing short stories and novels at the age of 8. Her first novel was Bot Tolar Upannyash (1958). She authored a number of novels, poems, and plays in both Bangla and English.

Her literary works include the novels Chitrokabbya, Bot Tolar Upannyash, Anukalpa, Padobik, and Draupadi, the last one being translated into English. Argus Under Anaesthesia (1976) and Cruel April (1977) are two of her collections of poems.

For her contribution in Bangla literature, Dr Razia Khan won the Bangla Academy award, the most prestigious literary award in the country, in 1975. She also won the Ekushey Padak (1997), Ananya Award (1998), and Shilpakala Academy Award for her contribution to theatre in Bangladesh.

The namaz-e-janaza of Dr Razia Khan will be held at DU Central Mosque after Zohr prayers today. She will be buried in Banani Graveyard afterwards.

Aasha Mehreen Amin, magazine editor of The Star, a weekly publication of The Daily Star, is the daughter of Prof Razia Khan Amin.