Jeelani Bano (14 July 1936 – 1 March 2026) was an Indian writer and novelist. She wrote in Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati and Telugu. Bano received the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri in 2001.

Jeelani Bano was born on 14 July 1936 in Badayun, in United Provinces of Agra and Oudh to Hairat Badayuni, a known Urdu poet. After her schooling, she enrolled for intermediate course when she married Anwar Moazzam, a poet of repute and a former head of the Department of Islamic Studies at the Osmania University and shifted to Hyderabad. She continued her education to secure a master's degree (MA) in Urdu.

Bano started writing at an early age, reported to be at the age of eight, and her first story, Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi (A Glance Hither), was published in 1952. She is credited with 22 books comprising anthologies starting with Roshni ke Minar and novels beginning with Aiwaan-e-ghazal. Her list of books include an autobiography, Afzane and a collection of her correspondence with other writers, Door ki Aawaazen. One of her stories, Narsayya Ki Bavdi, has been made into a 2009 feature film, Well Done Abba by the renowned filmmaker, Shyam Benegal. Many of her books have been translated into other languages.

Jeelani Bano, a former Chairperson of the non governmental organization for women's rights, Asmita, lived in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. She was also associated with Youth for Action of which she was a former chairperson, Child and Women Human Rights, a forum of the International Human Rights Association of India as its principal advisor and maintains associations with radio and television.

Bano died on 1 March 2026, at the age of 89.

Bano received the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960, followed by the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1985.

She received the Qaumi Haali Award from the Haryana Urdu Academy in 1989.

The Government of India honoured her with the civilian award of Padma Shri in 2001.