Eminent writer, researcher, and leftist intellectual Badruddin Umar passed away on Sunday morning at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital due to age-related complications. He was 94.
According to Jatiya Mukti Council Secretary Foyzul Hakim, Umar had been hospitalised on 22 July with shortness of breath and low blood pressure. He received treatment for 10 days before being discharged last week but fell seriously ill again and was pronounced dead at 10:05 am.
Born on 20 December 1931 in Bardhaman, India, Badruddin Umar was the son of Abul Hashim, a prominent Muslim nationalist politician. A towering Marxist thinker, Umar played a key role in Bangladesh’s political and intellectual landscape, contributing significantly to leftist thought, the nationalist movement, and academic discourse.
Umar began his career as a part-time lecturer at Dhaka University, later founding the Department of Sociology at Rajshahi University. A lifelong political activist, he served as president of the Bangladesh Krishok Federation, central coordinator of the Gonotantrik Biplobi Jote, and was a former central committee member of the Purba Banglar Communist Party. In 2003, he established the Jatiya Mukti Council, serving as its president until his death.
His widely respected works, including Samprodayikota (1966), Sangskritir Sangkat (1967), and Sangskritik Samprodayikota (1969), are considered cornerstones of political and cultural criticism in Bangladesh.
The news of his passing sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the country’s political, cultural, and academic spheres.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus described Umar as “a lighthouse in the nation’s pursuit of free thought and progressive ideals,” praising his role in the Language Movement, his opposition to authoritarianism, and his lifelong dedication to socialist principles. The government had nominated him for the Independence Award in recognition of his contributions.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman called him “a symbol of the country’s independent conscience,” lauding his courage in the face of political repression. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed the sentiment, calling him a fearless voice for the people.
Tributes also poured in from cultural icons and academics. Filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki criticised institutional neglect of Umar’s legacy, calling him a truth-teller who challenged dominant narratives. Economist Anu Muhammad, photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, and writer Azfar Hussain hailed his intellectual courage and unwavering integrity.
Bangla Academy described him as a historian and intellectual whose legacy would continue to inspire future generations.
Badruddin Umar’s passing marks the end of an era. He leaves behind a legacy of intellectual defiance, academic rigour, and a lifelong commitment to justice and emancipation.
