Communist Party of Bangladesh

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশের কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি, 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, Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) split from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and it's East Pakistani wing was formed. However, the geopolitical separation and socio-economic differences between the East and the West Pakistan led the East Pakistani wing of the CPP to form a separate Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP) in 1968. The party the actively participated in the 1969 mass uprising and 1971 non-cooperation movement, and organised a guerilla 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 active role in the 1990 mass uprising, 2013 Shahbag protests and 2024 July mass uprising.

As a Marxist–Leninist party the party is organised under the principle of democratic centralism, with a stated goal of the "revolutionary democratic transformation of society and state". Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the party has espoused a more progressive and democratic socialist platform. The party leads Left Democratic Alliance, an alliance of left-leaning parties, since 2018. Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan has been serving the president of the party since 2025.

After the partitioning of India in 1947, during the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Calcutta, the delegates coming from regions within the newly founded state of Pakistan (which included what now constitutes Bangladesh) met on 6 March 1948 in a separate session and decided to form the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP). Nepal Nag from East Bengal became the general secretary of the party.^[2]

The main strength and activity of the newly constituted Party was in the province of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). This eastern unit was geographically separated from the western unit by almost 2,000 km of Indian territory. Because of this wide geographical separation along with persecution by the Pakistani government and uneven development of democratic movement in the two parts of the country, the communists of East Pakistan felt the need to have an independent centre for further advancing their activities. The 4th Conference of the East Pakistan Provincial Committee of the Party, which met clandestinely in 1968, declared itself to be the 1st Congress of the Communist Party of East Pakistan (CPEP) and elected a Central Committee for the Party. With the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971, this party took its present name of Communist Party of Bangladesh.

The party played a vital role in the 1969 uprising and also during the nationwide upheaval that followed it including the non co-operation movement of 1971. The CPB also actively participated in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. A "Special Guerilla Force" under the direct command of CPB, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) and Bangladesh Students Union fought against the Pakistan army.^[3] 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 ex-president of CPB, was elected a member of the advisory council of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.

Following the independence of Bangladesh, the Party formed a Trade Union Centre with a view to mobilising trade union organisations and movements on revolutionary lines. The Gana Oikya Jote (Translation: 'People's Unity Alliance'; Bengali: 'গণ ঐক্য জোট') was formed on 14 October 1973 consisting of the Awami League, CPB and NAP (Muzaffar) with a view to prepare ground for establishing socialism in the country. At its 1973 congress held in Dacca, the party adopted a new constitution, and a 26-member central committee was elected 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 thr military rule. The CPB leaders and workers were victims to serious repression under the military government in 1975. The party leaders in the centre and in 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 vital role in the 1990 mass uprising agaist Ershad.^[4]

The CPB faced a great crisis in 1991 in view of the collapse of Soviet-style socialism in Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union. The party leaders were divided into two camps, one in favour of dissolving the CPB and replacing it with a new platform on democratic lines, and the other in favour of maintaining the party in its original form. This conflict grew to be acute 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.^[5]

The party played leading role in 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.

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')

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".

Since the fall of communism in 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. Being a leftist party, the often takes anti-imperialist stance against the United States, India, and Pakistan. The party firmly supports the Palestinian independence and two-state solution, and voiced it's opposition to the Gaza genocide by Israel.

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.

• 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
• Shahjahan Siraj - Current member of the CPB's central committee
• Moni Singh - Founding member
• Muzahidul Islam Selim

• Bangladesh Trade Union Centre

• Official Website