She was 86.
Rabeya started her writing career crossing the barriers of patriarchal society and when women were almost confined to their homes.
The novelist died at her Banani residence around 5:00pm after suffering a cardiac arrest, said her family. She is survived by two daughters and two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.
In her career spanning almost six decades, Rabeya had shown her capacities in short stories, essays, religious history, and travelogues. And she became an inspiration for many budding writers, including females.
Rabeya wrote over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories.
She received Ekushey Padak in 1993 and Independence Day Award in 2017, the two most prestigious and highest civilian awards of the Bangladesh government, for her contributions to literature.