Intellectuals and colleagues pay tribute to Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque at memorial event
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Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury led tributes to the late Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque at a memorial meeting hosted by the Bangla Academy, honoring the intellectual’s lifelong commitment to the rights of workers, farmers, and the laboring masses. The event, held at the academy’s Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room, brought together former students, colleagues, and admirers to reflect on the legacy of a man described as a steadfast voice for a democratic, welfare-oriented state.
Minister Roy Chowdhury, who was a student of Professor Haque, noted that the educator’s influence extended far beyond the classroom, shaping his understanding of both politics and life. Recalling his own transition into public service, the minister shared that he sought his former teacher’s blessings upon accepting his ministerial post. Reflecting on the profound loss, Roy Chowdhury remarked that while some deaths are as light as a feather, the passing of his mentor felt as heavy as a mountain, emphasizing that Haque viewed the state as a vessel for the people, driven by the collective strength of its citizens.
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Speakers at the forum highlighted Haque’s unique pedagogical style, which many likened to the ancient Greek philosophers who educated in public spaces. Researcher Syed Azizul Haque characterized the late professor as a staunchly pro-Bangladesh intellectual who possessed a rare capacity for tolerance, patiently listening to dissenting views even when they contradicted his own. This spirit of openness, combined with his secular outlook and commitment to contemporaneity, defined his public and private persona.
Colleagues and academics noted that Professor Haque lived his principles with uncompromising integrity. Professor Mahbub Borhan observed that Haque never wavered in speaking or writing what he believed to be true, regardless of external opinion, remaining an advocate for non-violence throughout his career. Meanwhile, essayist Afzalul Bashar lauded his unparalleled scholarship on 19th-century Bengal’s intellectual awakening, history, and literature, suggesting his depth of knowledge was rivaled only by the late Professor Ahmad Sharif.
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Representing the family, his daughter, Professor Suchita Sharmin, described a man of humble habits who remained entirely disinterested in positions of power, dedicating his nights to scholarship rather than personal gain. Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam echoed these sentiments, labeling Haque a preeminent intellectual whose humanist vision remained constant until his final days.
Linguist Professor Manzoor Murshed, who served as the chair of the event and was a long-time classmate and colleague of the late academic, concluded the discussion by calling for the publication of a comprehensive collection of Haque’s works to ensure his writings remain accessible to the public. Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque, who dedicated his existence to the empowerment of the common person, passed away on July 5.
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