Selina Hossain 

Selina Hossain (born June 14, 1947) is a prominent Bangladeshi novelist known for her significant literary contributions. Notable works include “Hangor Nodi Grenade” (1976) and “Poka Makorer Ghor Boshoti” (1996). She has received major national awards, including the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1980, Ekushey Padak in 2009, and the Independence Day Award in 2018. Her novels and short stories have been translated into several languages, including English, Russian, French, Japanese, Korean, Finnish, and Malay. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Fareea Lara Foundation.

Early Life and Education

Selina Hossain was born to A. K. Mosharrof Hossain and Mariamennesa Bakul. She obtained an MA degree in Bengali language and literature from Rajshahi University in 1968.

Career

In 1994–95, Hossain received a scholarship from the Ford Foundation for her novel,
“Sandhya Gayatri.” She held the position of director at the Bangla Academy before retiring. Additionally, she served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh and represented her government on the executive board of UNESCO. In 2014, she was appointed as the Chairman of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy. Notably, Hossain’s novel “Bhumi O Kusum” was the first work in Bangla literature to address the enclave issue.

Awards

  • Bangla Academy Literary Award (1980)
  • Dr. Muhammad Enamul Huq Gold Medal (1969)
  • Alaol Literary Award (1981)
  • Kamar Mushtari Memorial Prize (1987)
  • Philips Literary Prize (1994)
  • Alakta Literary Award (1994)
  • Premchand Fellowship of Sahitya Akademi
  • Ekushey Padak (2009)
  • Rabindra Smriti Puraskar by IIPM, New Delhi (2010)
  • Chandrabati Academy Gold Medal (2010)
  • International Award for Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) from Rabindra Bharati University (2010)
  • Surma Choudhury Memorial Award by IIPM, New Delhi (2011)
  • SAARC Literary Award (2015)
  • Independence Day Award (2018)