Nurjahan Begum ‘opens her eyes’ in ICU four days after being admitted

Four days after being admitted to the Square Hospital ICU, editor Noor Jahan Begum has opened her eyes, her daughter has confirmed.

The 92-year-old is the editor of "Begum", a weekly women's magazine, touted as the first of its kind published from the subcontinent.

She was admitted to the hospital four days ago for respiratory distress.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, her elder daughter, Flora Nasrin Khan said, "When I entered the ICU I found that the life support was removed and Ma's eyes were open".

She was born on June 4, 1924 in Chandpur.

She received her education from the Begum Rokeya-established Shekhawat Memorial Girls High School in West Bengal before moving on to Lady Brabourne College.

In 1947, her father, also an eminent editor, launched "Begum" to give space to women issues in media.

Published initially from Kolkata, the magazine shifted base to Dhaka in 1950 following partition.

Nurjahan succeeded Poet Sufia Kamal to become the editor of the magazine four months after it was launched.

In 1952, she married noted litterateur, Rokannujjaman Khan, fondly known as Dadabhai.

She was awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak in 1997 for her contribution to women literacy and literature.