Barua was a leader of the East Pakistan Students Union from 1966 to 1970. He was a member of the Communist Party since 1969 and elected member of the Dhaka City Committee of the Party in 1972. He was the President of the Jubo Federation during 1977–1979. Barua is one of the architects of the 14-party alliance. He played a vital role in the formulation of the 31-point reforms of the
caretaker government and the 23-points programs. During his long political career, he was imprisoned in 1969 as the student leader, in 1983 as a member of the Political Bureau. He led an underground life several times due to political reasons. ==References==