CPB calls on Left parties in Bangladesh to launch democratic alternative to AL, BNP

The Communist Party of Bangladesh has called on all Left parties to unite and create a democratic alternative to the big two political parties.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Oct 2016, 08:16 PM
Updated : 28 Oct 2016, 08:16 PM

The call came during the party's 11th Congress.

CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim called on the 'comrades' to unite.

"I call on all leftists, communists, unite all and form the Left unity and create the Left democratic alternative," he said, addressing the Congress at Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday.

He advised communists not to be disheartened by the setbacks of numerous divisions that they have endured.

Remembering the names of the great communist leaders, he said if the followers of these leaders scattered across the country unite, nothing can stop the Left from attaining its goals.

Selim said there cannot be any room for anti-Liberation forces in the country's politics and such an atmosphere must be built up where both the government and the opposition parties are pro-liberation parties.

He claimed that the people are fed up with the bourgeois politics in the country and said the leftists must take the responsibility to end this 'intolerable' politics. 

"The leftists, please build a movement today with the other democratic forces. The Awami League is unsuccessful; BNP is more so. Please free Bangladesh from the disgrace of this failure," Selim said.

According to him, the 'reign of looters' has continued. "Exploitation and discrimination have increased. The people have lost their minimum right to vote...Jatiya Party is playing the role of a pet opposition in Parliament," he added.     

CPB General Secretary Abu Zafar Ahmed also called for the formation of a left alternative power which can satisfy the aspirations of the poor, the middle classes and the working class in Bangladesh.

Lashing out at the government he said, "The government says that there is a flood of development in the country and so democracy is shut in a box for the moment."

He said the CPB will not tolerate any attempts to clamp down on democracy as democratic spirit is the pillar of the freedom movement.

Congress preparation committee chairman and presidium member Haider Akbar Khan Rono could not attend the event in person owing to his ill health.

A written statement was read out on his behalf by Presidium leader Lakshmi Chakraborty.

In the statement, Rono said the ruling party has distanced itself from the ideals that had inspired the liberation movement in 1971.

He said the capitalists are out to erase the memory of the ideals of the independence struggle.

As many as 683 representatives from across Bangladesh have joined the Congress.

Twenty-six representatives from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Russia and Vietnam have also joined the Congress.