Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq (1940 – 2026)

Their Story

Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq was a distinguished Bangladeshi writer, essayist, translator, critic, and cultural activist who dedicated his life to promoting Bengali language and literature. He spent more than forty years as a professor in the Department of Bengali at the University of Dhaka, leaving a profound impact on generations of students and scholars. His scholarly work encompassed literature, history, politics, and cultural studies, making him one of Bangladesh's most prolific and respected intellectuals. Beyond academia, Haq was a passionate advocate for the Bengali language, serving as convener of the State Language Bengali Protection Committee with the goal of ensuring Bangla usage in all sectors of society. His editorial work on the literary magazine Lokayata, which he founded in 1982, helped nurture new voices in Bengali literature. In 1981, he received the prestigious Bangla Academy Literary Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Bengali letters. Shortly before his death, he was appointed President of Bangla Academy in October 2024 by the interim government, a testament to his stature as a leading cultural figure. Throughout his career, Haq authored more than twenty books on topics ranging from the Language Movement to political philosophy and cultural analysis, establishing himself as both a creative writer and a thoughtful analyst of Bangladeshi society.