Journalist Aminul Haq Badsha dies

Renowned journalist Khondker Aminul Haq Badsha has died after prolonged illness at

London’s Orpington Hospital on Monday night, 9th February at 11.30pm. He was suffering

from heart complications and recently had suffered from a stroke.

Aminul Haq Badsha was the deputy Press Secretary to Bangladesh’s founding father

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 Aminul

Haq Badsha, was one of the key organisers of ‘Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra’ in Mujib

Nagar. He was also director of External Publicity Division of Bangladesh Mission, Mujib

Nagar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a condolence message said he was very close to

Bangabandhu and that the nation had lost a patriot in his death.

Born on January 28, 1942 at Kushtia, he got involved with Chhatra League in the 1960s

during his Dhaka University days. He was the general secretary of East Pakistan Chhatra

League unit and was incarcerated for his role in the anti-Ayub Khan movement. During his

student life he spent time in various prisons due to his involvement in politics. He took

admission in Law and Sociology at Dhaka University in 1963.

Aminul Haq Badsha completed his MA in Sociology from Dhaka University and graduated

from prison. He was General Secretary of Iqbal Hall of Dhaka University. He had suffered at

the hands of the Pakistan military and was also tried absentia in October 1971 and given 14

years imprisonment.

He left Bangladesh for the UK after Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975. He was known as

a community activist and worked as social worker in Tower Hamlets. In the UK he

completed a Masters and a Diploma in Social Work and worked as Social Worker in Tower

Hamlets.

He was a keen advocate to seek justice for the martyred families of 1971. In the UK his

colleagues, friends have expressed their deepest condolences for a man who had stood up for

justice during Bangladesh’s most difficult time and became a close associate of the British

Bengali community in their struggle against racism. His UK colleagues journalist Ishaque

Kajol, journalist Syed Enamul Islam, journalist Syed Anas Pasha, journalist Matiar

Chowdhury in a message expressed their deepest condolences. Since the news of his death

messages have been pouring in Bangla Mirror office. Others who have expressed their grief

so far are Dr B B Chauduri, Nooruddin Ahmed, Rajon Uddin Jalal, Sunahwar Ali, Ayub

Korom Ali, Raja Miah, Sultana Qureshi, Theo Fariduddin, Husneara Matin, and Jamal Khan

amongst many others.

His career in journalism started as Kushtia correspondent for Daily Azadi in 1957. In 1969 he

was made Bangabandhu’s press secretary following Sheikh Mujib’ s release from Agartala

conspiracy case. After arriving in the UK Aminul Haq Badsha, popularly known as Badsha

bhai to all in the UK, continued his involvement in journalism. He worked as a freelance

journalist. He was the executive member of Bangladesh Journalist Association as well as the

Commonwealth Journalist Association UK. He was correspondents of a number national

daily newspaper in India, Bangladesh and England, including ATN Bangla TV channel.

Abdul Karim Gani, editor of Bangla Mirror said, ‘Badsha bhai will be deeply missed, he was

such a wonderful warm person.’ For his achievements in media and journalism Aminul Haq

Badsha was awarded in 2013 by ‘British Bangladeshi Who’s Who. He was a true journalist and

will be missed very much indeed by our community. Our deepest condolences to his family, relatives

and friends. He had written four books and acted in several Bengali films.

Aminul Haq Badsha was married. He leaves behind two children, a son and a daughter. He

will be remembered for his role in journalism, politics, community activism and above all for

his unconditional love and affection for Bangabandhu & Bangladesh. His Namaze Janaza held

on Friday 13th February after Jumma prayers at Brick Lane Mosque. According to his last

wish his body will be flown to Bangladesh on Saturday or Sunday to be buried in his home

town Kushtia next to his mother’s grave.