Liberation War and history distorter Badruddin Umar is no more

❐ Staff Reporter

Badruddin Umar (94), a controversial leftist writer and political activist accused of distorting the history of the Liberation War and independence, has died.

He breathed his last on Sunday morning while undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Dhaka due to age-related complications. National Liberation Council General Secretary Faizul Hakim confirmed the news of his death.

Born on December 20, 1931 in Burdwan, West Bengal, India, Badruddin Umar began his career as a part-time teacher at Dhaka University. Later, he established the Department of Sociology at Rajshahi University. In his long political career, he served as the President of the Bangladesh Farmers Federation and the Central Coordinator of the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance.

He is accused of making controversial statements about the history of the Liberation War and independence in exchange for funds from foreign organizations and influential circles. People in favor of the Liberation War have been complaining that through these writings and statements, he questioned the Liberation War and tried to undermine the legitimacy of independence.

Badruddin Umar refused to accept the Swadhinata Award this year, even though the government nominated him. He had long maintained a stance of not accepting any state or private awards.

Umar has long been criticized for his anti-Liberation War statements. In an interview on the eve of Victory Day, he claimed that “80 to 90 percent” of what has been written about the Liberation War is false. He also called the portrayal of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the great hero of the Liberation War “the garbage of history.”

Badruddin could not give any good answers during his lifetime to questions such as why he did not participate in the Liberation War despite his advanced age, and how he was able to move around Dhaka city and various parts of the country safely and unhindered under the noses of Pakistani soldiers during the Liberation War.

In addition, he publicly questioned Bangabandhu’s leadership and said, “What kind of Father of the Nation is Mujib?” These comments and writings of his have been repeatedly criticized as examples of distorting the history of the Liberation War.

Although Badruddin Umar said in a recent interview that denying the Liberation War is ‘foolish’, his claim was against the one-sided historical discourse of the government and party.

Badruddin Umar, who had a long political life, was active in writing and research despite his controversial stances. The family said that details of his burial and other formalities will be announced later.