Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq laid to rest at Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard

Eminent essayist, researcher, literary critic and social analyst Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq was laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in Mirpur on Monday, July 6, after receiving tributes from people from all walks of life at Bangla Academy and the Central Shaheed Minar.

His son-in-law, Anwarul Hasan, said the burial was completed around 3:15 pm.

Earlier in the day, the first funeral prayer of Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq was held at Bangla Academy. Colleagues, students, writers, litterateurs and representatives of various cultural organisations paid their respects.

The body was then taken to the Central Shaheed Minar. Despite heavy rain, people from different professions and leaders and activists of political and cultural organisations paid tributes by placing flowers on the coffin.

After the tributes at Shaheed Minar, the body was taken to the foot of Aparajeya Bangla at Dhaka University, his long-time workplace. However, due to heavy rain, the coffin could not be placed there. Later, at 12:30 pm, the university administration, representatives of various departments and teacher organisations paid tributes at the main gate of the Faculty of Arts.

The second funeral prayer was held at the Dhaka University Central Mosque around 2:00 pm. The body was then taken to the Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard for burial.

Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq fell ill on Sunday afternoon while having lunch with his family at a restaurant. He was rushed to a clinic, where doctors declared him dead.

Haq taught for four decades at the Bangla department of Dhaka University. He was also the convener of the Rashtrabhasha Bangla Rokkha Komiti (State Language Bengali Protection Committee), advocating for the use of Bengali at all levels.

Born on September 30, 1940, in Pakundia, Kishoreganj, he completed his secondary education from Mymensingh Zilla School and higher secondary from Ananda Mohan College before enrolling at Dhaka University. After completing his bachelor's and master's degrees, he began teaching there and later served as chairman of the Bangla department.

He published around 21 books, including works on Bangladesh's struggle, politics, state and society, as well as literary criticism. Among his notable works are 'Muktisangram', 'Kaler Jatrar Dhoni', 'Ekushey February Andolan', 'Naitikata: Shreyoniti O Durneeti', 'Rajniti O Darshan', 'Asha-Akankhar Samarthane', 'Rashtra Chintay Bangladesh', 'Unish Shataker Madhyashreni O Bangla Sahitya', 'Sahityachinta', 'Sanskritir Sahaj Katha' and others. He also translated works and edited several books.

From the 1980s, he edited a literary journal called 'Lokayata'. He also served as president of the Swadesh Chinta Sangha, founded by Ahmed Sharif. He wrote regular columns for various newspapers and periodicals.

He received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1981. In 2024, he was appointed president of Bangla Academy.

His daughter, Shuchita Sharmin, is a teacher at Dhaka University. His son, Faisal Arefin Deepan, proprietor of Jagriti Prokashani, was killed by militants at his office in Shahbag, Dhaka, on October 31, 2015.