Veteran intellectual, politician Badruddin Umar passes away

Badruddin Umar, a renowned intellectual, veteran Marxist politician, and prolific writer, passed away in this morning (September 7). He was 94 years old.

Faizul Hakim Lala, general secretary of the Jatiya Mukti Council, confirmed that Umar died at 10:05am after being taken from his residence to a specialized hospital earlier in this morning due to illness.

"Further details will be shared later," he said.

Badruddin Umar had been suffering from age-related complications for a long time. He was admitted to hospital on July 22 with breathing difficulties and low blood pressure and had returned home just a week prior to his death after a 10-day stay.

Born on December 20, 1931, in Burdwan, West Bengal, Umar was the son of Abul Hashim, a prominent politician in the Indian subcontinent. He completed his secondary and higher secondary education in Burdwan, and after moving to Dhaka in 1950, earned a bachelor’s degree with honours in 1953 and a master’s in philosophy in 1955 from Dhaka University. He later studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University, graduating in 1961.

Badruddin Umar began his academic career as a part-time teacher at Dhaka University. In 1963, he joined Rajshahi University, where he founded the Department of Sociology and helped establish the Department of Political Science. He served as a professor for 11 years before resigning in 1968 to dedicate himself fully to politics and writing. During his academic tenure, he was deeply involved in leftist political movements advocating for socialism.

Badruddin Umar joined the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) in 1975 and was elected to its Central Committee. He was tasked with preparing the report for the party’s Special Congress in 1976. Over his five-decade political career, he held key leadership roles, including President of the Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Central Coordinator of the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, and President of the National Liberation Council — an organization he founded in 2003 and led until his death.

Badruddin Umar was also a highly respected author and editor, having written over 100 books in Bengali and English. His work focused on nationalism, religion, politics, and culture, and played a significant role in shaping intellectual discourse during and after Bangladesh's liberation struggle.

His most notable works include Communalism (1966), The Crisis of Culture (1967), and Cultural Communalism (1969). He also served as editor of the political and cultural magazine Sanskriti for over 30 years.

Despite being recognized with several prestigious honours — including the Bangla Academy Award (1972), the Itihas Parishad Award (1974), and the Independence Award in 2024 — Badruddin Umar declined to accept any of them, consistent with his ideological principles.

Badruddin Umar's legacy spans academia, political activism, and critical thought. He leaves behind a profound impact on Bangladesh’s political and cultural history.