Dhaka, Aug. 16 -- Noted novelist Rizia Rahman died at a hospital in the city on Friday. She was 79.

Rizia breathed her last at Apollo Hospital in the morning, said an official release.

Born on December 28, 1939 in Bhabanipur, Kolkata, she authored many memorable books including 'Bong Theke Bangla (1978)', 'Rokter Okshor (1978)', 'Ghar-Bhanga-Ghar (1974)', 'Uttar Purush (1977)', 'Surja Sabuj Rakta (1980)', 'Ekal Cirokal (1984)', the autobiography 'Nodi Nirobodhi (2011)' and many more.

She received an array of prestigious awards including Ekushey Padak (2019),Bangla Academy Literary Award, Jessore Sahitya Parishad Puraskar, Bangladesh Lekhika Sangha Shwarna Padak and Ananya Sahitya Puraskar.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid...