Basak was born in Radhanagor of Pabna town, Bengal Presidency, British India to parents Haripada Basak and Usha Rani Basak. Basak matriculated in 1957 securing First Division from R.M. Academy. He secured the second position in the merit list in the Intermediate Science Examination in 1959 from Govt. Edward College. He was placed in First Class with the first position in the B.Sc. (Hons) examination from Rajshahi College in 1961. In M.Sc. Examination (1963) from the University of Rajshahi, he obtained the first position in first class and was awarded an RU Gold medal.