Abdur Razzaq

Prof. Abdur Razzaq (, ; – 28 November 1999) was a Bangladeshi scholar, academic, public intellectual and one of the first National Professors of Bangladesh.

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.

Early life and education Razzaq was born in 1914 in his maternal home in the village of Paragram in Nawabganj, Dacca district, Bengal Presidency. His father, Abdul Ali, was a police officer from Alinagar in Keraniganj. 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. 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.

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. In 1973, the University of Delhi awarded him an honorary D.Litt. degree.