Dhaka, March 26 -- Two years ago, Sanjida Khatun came to Chhayanaut in a wheelchair for an event celebrating her 90th birthday.

This time, a sombre mood pervaded her beloved institution as she returned for the last time. Tearful colleagues, students, and fellow cultural figures surrounded her body as songs of Rabindranath Tagore and Lalon -- the music that had been her lifelong companion in shaping and nurturing Bengali culture -- filled the air.

As a founding member and the last president of Chhayanaut, Sanjida was mourned by artists, cultural activists, and admirers from all walks of life. From early Wednesday morning, people gathered at Chhayanaut to pay their final respects. The line of mourners stretched past the building, reaching...