Communist Party of Bangladesh
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The Communist Party of Bangladesh (Template:Langx, abbreviated: CPB) is the dominant communist political party in Bangladesh. It emerged from the East Pakistani wing of the Communist Party of Pakistan in 1968.
Following the Partition of India, the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) split from the Communist Party of India (CPI), and its East Pakistani wing was formed. However, the geopolitical separation and socio-economic differences between East and West Pakistan led the East Pakistani wing of the CPP to form a separate Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP) in 1968. The party actively participated in the 1969 mass uprising and 1971 non-cooperation movement and organised a guerrilla force with the Bangladesh Students' Union and the National Awami Party (Muzaffar) during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. The party joined the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL) and was temporarily dissolved in 1975. It played an active role in the 1990 mass uprising, the 2013 Shahbag protests and the 2024 July mass uprising.
As a Marxist–Leninist organisation, the party is structured according to the principle of democratic centralism and has declared its objective as the "revolutionary democratic transformation of society and state". Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the party adopted a more progressive and democratic socialist platform. Since 2018, it has been a leading member of the Left Democratic Alliance, a coalition of left‑wing parties. Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan has served as the party’s president since 2025.
History
Background and formation
After the Partition of India in 1947, delegates from Pakistan, including present‑day Bangladesh, attended the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of India in Calcutta. On 6 March 1948, they held a separate session and established the Communist Party of Pakistan, with Nepal Nag of East Bengal as its first general secretary.[1]
The main base of the newly formed party was in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). This eastern unit was separated from the western unit by nearly 2,000 km of Indian territory. The geographical divide, combined with repression from the government of Pakistan and uneven development of democratic movements, led communists in East Pakistan to seek an independent centre for their activities. At its 4th Conference in 1968, held clandestinely, the East Pakistan Provincial Committee declared the meeting to be the 1st Congress of the Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP) and elected a Central Committee.
The party played a vital role in the 1969 uprising and the subsequent nationwide upheaval, including the non-cooperation movement of 1971. The CPB also actively participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War. A "Special Guerilla Force" under the direct command of the CPB, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) and Bangladesh Students Union fought against the Pakistan army.[2] Communists also took part in the other segments of the armed resistance fighters, including the Mukti Bahini and the new Bangladesh Army. Moni Singh, the former president of CPB, was elected to the advisory council of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.
Independent Bangladesh
Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the party adopted the name Communist Party of Bangladesh. It subsequently formed a Trade Union Centre to mobilise labour organisations along revolutionary lines. On 14 October 1973 the Gana Oikya Jote (Translation: 'People's Unity Alliance'; Bengali: 'গণ ঐক্য জোট') was formed, comprising the Awami League, CPB and NAP (Muzaffar), with a view to prepare ground for establishing socialism in the country. At its 1973 congress in Dacca, the party adopted a new constitution and elected a 26‑member central committee, with Moni Singh as president and Mohammad Farhad as general secretary. The party merged into Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL) on 25 January 1975 under President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's "Second Revolution" programme.
On 15 August 1975, Sheikh Mujib was assassinated by a section of the army, which ultimately brought the country under military rule. The CPB leaders and workers were victims of serious repression under the military government in 1975. The party leaders in the centre and at district levels were arrested, warrants were issued against many, and in October 1977, CPB was declared banned. In 1978 the ban on the party was, however, withdrawn, and its leaders were released. The CPB participated in the 1979 general election. As a member of the Oikya Front, the CPB endorsed Zuhayr Zimam in the 1978 presidential election. The CPB joined the 15-party alliance in 1983 against the military rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad and participated in the 1986 general election, where it secured five seats. The CPB played a vital role in the 1990 mass uprising against Ershad.[3]
In 1991, following the collapse of Soviet‑style socialism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, the CPB entered a period of internal discussion regarding its future direction. Party leaders were divided between those who favoured dissolving the CPB in favour of a new democratic platform and those who supported maintaining the party in its original form. This debate grew in 1993 when the two opposing groups arranged separate conventions in Dhaka. The Marxist–Leninist group, in their convention held on 15 June 1993, resolved in favour of the independent existence of the CPB and had their new central executive committee formed with Shahidulla Chowdhury as president and Mujahidul Islam Selim as general secretary. A Workers Party of Bangladesh faction merged with CPB in February 2010.[4]
The party played a leading role in the 2013 Shahbag protests, demanding the trial of war crimes of 1971. During the premiership of Sheikh Hasina, the party organised anti-government protests and boycotted 2014 and 2024. The party actively participated in the July mass uprising in 2024.
Organisation
Revolutionary internationalism is a cardinal aspect of the party's policy principles. Democratic centralism is the guiding organisational principle of the CPB. The party congress, which is convened every 4 years, is the supreme body of the party which elects a central committee accountable to it. The central committee is the highest organ of the party during the interval between the two congresses.
The CPB has organisations in 62 out of the 64 districts and 275 out of 520 upazilas in Bangladesh. The district and upazila committees coordinate and guide the activities of the zonal committees and the primary branches of the party. The party members are organised in these primary branches, The branches on their part organise "activist groups" which serve to prepare cadres for party membership. Besides party membership, the party also provides opportunity to include "associate members" from among supporters of the party.
The party members and activists are working in trade unions and mass organisations of agricultural workers, peasants, women, students, youth, children, teachers, doctors, lawyers, professionals, indigenous national minorities and aboriginal, cultural organszations etc. In spite of relatively small number of party members and associate members, the party is capable of mobilising several hundreds of thousands of people through its influence in these mass organisations.
The main organ of the party is Weekly Ekota (Translation: 'Unity'; Bengali: 'একতা')
Ideology and policies
As a communist party, the CPB is committed to communism. The party organised as a vanguard party and pursue a united front strategy. The party is working with a strategy of bringing about a "revolutionary democratic transformation of society and state". The Party has put forward a 17-point program in consonance with this strategic goal of "revolutionary democratic transformation".[3]
Since the fall of socialism in eastern Europe and dissolution of the Soviet Union, the party has focused more on progressive and democratic socialist principles. The party advocates for advancement of the rights of workers, women, and ethnic and religious minorities. The party is known for regularly voicing anti‑imperialist views, especially in its criticism of the foreign policies of the United States, India, and Pakistan. The party firmly supports the Palestinian independence and a one-state solution, and voiced it's opposition to the Gaza genocide by Israel.[5][6]
The party favours maintaining the current constitution of Bangladesh and strongly supports the fundamental principles of Bengali nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism. The party has voiced multiple times against the revertion of these principles. The party actively participated in the formulation of July Charter following the July mass uprising, but refused sign it alleging historical negationism related to the Liberation War.
The CPB has also been working to bring together left-wing forces to provide an alternative to the current political system. The party has giving special attention to strengthen the party and the mass organisations, increase cohesion among the communists and move towards communist unity, strengthen and expand the Left Democratic Alliance.
Election results
Jatiya Sangsad elections
| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Mohammad Farhad | 47,211 | 0.25% | Template:Composition bar | New | Increase 7th | Extra-parliamentary |
| 1979 | 75,455 | 0.39% | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | Decrease 10th | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 1986 | 259,728 | 0.91% | Template:Composition bar | Increase 5 | Increase 7th | Opposition | |
| 1988 | Boycotted | Template:Composition bar | Decrease 5 | — | Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 1991 | 407,515 | 1.19% | Template:Composition bar | Increase 5 | Steady 7th | Opposition | |
| Feb 1996 | Mujahidul Islam Selim | Boycotted | Template:Composition bar | Decrease 5 | — | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Jun 1996 | 48,549 | 0.11% | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | Decrease 11th | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2001 | 56,991 | 0.10% | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | Increase 10th | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2008 | 42,331 | 0.06% | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | Decrease 17th | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2014 | Boycotted | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | — | Extra-parliamentary | ||
| 2018 | 55,421 | 0.07% | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | Increase 14th | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2024 | Shah Alam | Boycotted | Template:Composition bar | Steady 0 | — | Extra-parliamentary | |
List of prominent members
- Shaheed Tajul Islam (died 1 March 1984) — The leader of the Adamjee Majdur Trade Union who was killed in 1984. His death anniversary is observed by the CPB.
- Mohammad Farhad (5 July 1938 – 9 October 1987) — Former leader of the CPB and member of the Bangladesh Parliament.
- Haider Akbar Khan Rono - He served as the secretary of the party's Dhaka city unit
- Badruddin Umar - Member of the CPB's central committee
- Moni Singh - Founding member
- Muzahidul Islam Selim
See also
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Notes
References
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External links
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