National Professor Abdur Razzaq
আবদুর রাজ্জাক
Professor Razzaq
Born	c. 1914 Paragram, Nawabganj, Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	28 November 1999(1999-11-28) (aged 84–85) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Citizenship	British Indian (1914–1947) Pakistani (1947–1971) Bangladeshi (1971–1999)
Occupations	Academic Professor Educator
Title	Professor
Academic background
Alma mater	Dhaka College University of Dhaka London School of Economics
Thesis	Political Parties in India
Doctoral advisor	Harold Laski
Academic work
Discipline	Political science
Sub-discipline	Political economy, Political philosophy, International relations
Institutions	University of Dhaka
Notable students	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ahmed Sofa, Sardar Fazlul Karim, Rehman Sobhan, Rounaq Jahan, Salimullah Khan
Main interests	Social sciences and humanities
Influenced	Ahmed Sofa

Prof. Abdur Razzaq (Bengali: আবদুর রাজ্জাক, pronounced [abd̪uɾ ɾad͡ʒːak]; c. 1914 – 28 November 1999)^[1] was a Bangladeshi scholar, academic, public intellectual and one of the first National Professors of Bangladesh.^[2]

His breadth of expertise spanned various fields, with a particular focus on oriental studies, history, and politics. Regarded as the esteemed "teacher of teachers," he garnered a diverse following that included not only intellectuals but also numerous influential political figures, among them Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.^[3]

Early life and education

Razzaq was born in 1914 in the Paragram village of Nawabganj Upazila of Dhaka District. His father, Abdul Ali, was a police officer. After his matriculation from the Government Muslim High School, Dhaka and intermediate exam from Dhaka College, he was admitted to the department of political economy at the University of Dhaka in 1931. In 1936, he completed his masters and then joined as a lecturer in the same department.^[4] When the department of political economy was bisected, he chose to join the department of political science. After the second world war, he went to London to study under Harold Laski at London School of Economics. He returned home without any formal degree after Laski had died in 1950 and carried on teaching in the department of political science at the University of Dhaka until 1975. He also taught in the departments of economics and international relations.^[2]

Career

Razzaq's political ideas influenced anti-Ayub-government movements during the 1960s; to get rid of his influence, the Ayub regime tried to "dismiss him from his teaching position at the University of Dhaka on the allegation that he was not mindful of his duties as a teacher, but which the government failed to establish in the court".^[2] During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he witnessed the March 1971 Dhaka University massacre. The Pakistanis came to arrest him at his home, but alerted by their kicking at his door, he escaped out the back. The Yahya Khan-government sentenced him in absentia to a fourteen-year rigorous imprisonment, accusing him of treasonable acts.^[2][5]

Abdur Razzaq (left), Ahmed Sofa (right)

Though Razzaq, apart from some essays and lectures, has no published works, many intellectuals have admitted his influence on their published works. Ahmed Sofa wrote his book, Jaddapi Amar Guru (Eventhough My Teacher), on Razzaq's life. Sardar Fazlul Karim published a book, Dhaka Bisshobiddalay O Purbabangya Samaj, based on his interviews of Razzaq. Salimullah Khan wrote a book on his lecture ‘’Bangladesh: State of the Nation’’. Muntassir Mamoon, Humayun Azad and others reminisced about him.^[2] It is claimed that he had as his students more than 70 members of parliament, among whom Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the most notable.^[2][5]

Honors

To acknowledge his unique status as a teacher, the Government of Bangladesh honored him with the distinction of National Professor in 1975.^[6] In 1973, the University of Delhi awarded him an honorary D.Litt. degree.^[7]

References