Othman became a respected figure, serving in various roles throughout his career and making a significant impact on education and public service in Brunei, starting his teaching journey at Jalan Pemancha Malay School in
Brunei Town. In 1936, 24 scouts from the Brunei Scout Movement (now
Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association) were organised in
Bukit Bendera,
Tutong District, with him serving as their leader. He was involved in the committee overseeing the restructuring of religious education in Brunei by 1940, working alongside notable figures such as Basir Taha, Marsal Maun, and Harun Mohd Amin. This restructuring introduced religious instruction in various schools, aligning the curriculum with those of the
Federated Malay States and
Straits Settlements. After
World War II ended in 1945, Brunei came under the administration of the
British Military Administration (BMA). During this period, Othman, along with Marsal Maun, was suspended from work by the BMA due to accusations of colluding with the
Japanese. Meanwhile, two other individuals were also detained for similar allegations. This turbulent time in Brunei's history coincided with the establishment of the
Barisan Pemuda (BARIP) on 12 April 1946, which aimed to address the challenges faced by educators and contribute to the rebuilding of the educational system in the post-war context. He actively contributed to the enhancement of
religious education in Brunei in 1946, during which, under the leadership of Basir Taha, religious studies were emphasised and incorporated into the curriculum of Malay schools throughout the country. After more than two decades of teaching in schools, Othman became the first local Bruneian to be appointed principal of the
Brunei Malay Teachers' College in 1961, a role he held for about 10 years. During his tenure at the college, he was part of the Brunei delegation that participated in unofficial discussions with the
federal government of Malaya in 1962 concerning the
formation of Malaysia. Led by
Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam, the delegation included prominent Bruneian officials and explored various aspects of Malaysia's formation, including potential benefits for Brunei, Brunei's role within the federation, and regional defence against
communist threats in Southeast Asia. Othman was a member of the Emergency Executive Committee (JKD), which temporarily replaced the Executive Council on 20 December 1962, following the establishment of the Emergency Council. The JKD was created in response to the 1962
Brunei revolt led by the
Parti Rakyat Brunei and was tasked with assisting in the administration of the country during the turmoil. The committee was allocated B$1 million to provide housing and other facilities for the
British Army, which was deployed to suppress the rebellion. The JKD was chaired by Marsal Maun, and included notable members such as
Sir Dennis Charles White, alongside Othman Bidin, Newn Ah Foot, Pengiran Abu Bakar bin Pengiran Omar Ali, and W. I. Glass. From June 1971 to 1975, he served as the first principal of MPUSB. One of his key contributions was the restructuring of the primary education curriculum in Brunei, and he was also a founding member of the
Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei (PGGMB). Additionally, Othman authored
Ilmu Alam Ringkas Brunei (A Short Geography of Brunei). Despite no official announcement being made, the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association website has labeled him as deceased. ==Honours==