Syeda Khatun, Akhter Mahal

Syeda Khatun, Akhter Mahal (1900-1928) writer, born in faridpur. Her father, Abdur Rahman, was a well-known lawyer. Like most Muslim girls of the time, Syeda Khatun did not go to school but learnt Bangla from her elder brothers. She was married at the age of 13 to Makbulul Huq Khan, the eldest son of Serajul Huq Khan, a zamindar of noakhali. At her father-in-law's house, Syeda Khatun was able to read journals such as mohammadi and saogat and became proficient in Bangla. She soon started writing short stories, poems and novels. In 1926 Syeda Khatun impressed kazi nazrul islam who was visiting Noakhali. Through his encouragement, she started publishing in Saogat, Mohammadi, Nawroz and other journals under a penname: Selima Begum. Her novel, Niyantrita, started being serialised in Saogat from 1927. Her second novel, Maranbaran, was published serially in Saogat under her own name.

Syeda Khatun died of malaria on 11 January 1928. In 1978 her children published a compilation of her writings under the title Niyantrita. [Ali Nawaz]