Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist)

Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist)
বাংলাদেশের সাম্যবাদী দল (মার্কসবাদী–লেনিনবাদী)
AbbreviationBSD
FounderSukhendu Dastidar
Founded1972
Preceded byEast Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist)
IdeologyCommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Mao Zedong Thought
Political positionLeft-wing to Far-left
ColorsRed

Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) was the name used by several political parties in Bangladesh. These groups emerged at different times as splinter factions of the East Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist). Among them, three organisations were particularly prominent: the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Barua), the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Dutta), and the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Umar), all of which remained active in Bangladesh during the post–Cold War years.[1]

Early history

In 1967–68, a split emerged within the undivided Communist Party of East Pakistan, influenced by the wider ideological conflict of the Sino–Soviet split. At the party's first congress, held on 1–3 October 1967, the East Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) was founded under the leadership of Sukhendu Dastidar and Mohammad Toaha, adopting Marxism, Leninism, and Mao Zedong thought as its ideological basis.[1]

In 1972, Sukhendu Dastidar changed the party's name from East Pakistan Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) to the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist).[2]

In 1976, the faction led by Alauddin Ahmed joined the Communist Party. In 1977, the party split into two groups.[3] One faction was organised under the leadership of Sukhendu Dastidar and Mohammad Toaha, while the other came under the leadership of Abdul Haque, Shardindu Dastidar, Ajay Bhattacharya, and Hemanta Sarkar.[4]

Badruddin Umar faction

On 14–15 August 1976, the East Bengal Revolutionary Party, Communist Workers' League, and a faction of the party met in a unity congress and adopted a new name. The congress elected a central committee and approved a political report. At this congress, Badruddin Umar, Sirajul Hossain Khan, Abul Bashar, and Dr. Saif‑ud‑Dahar, among others, emerged as leaders of the new party.[5]

Abdul Haque faction

After independence, Abdul Haque was elected general secretary of the faction he led. Despite the independence of Bangladesh his faction continued to use the name "East Pakistan Communist Party." In 1978, Abdul Haque's faction adopted the name Revolutionary Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist).[6]The party's seventh congress was held on 7–9 April 1988,[7] The eighth congress, held in 1991, was the last during Haque's lifetime.

Nani Gopal Dutta faction

In 1976, following a decision of the party plenum, the party was kept underground while one section was directed to take up opportunities for open work. In this context, Nani Gopal Dutta, also known as Ajay Dutta or Mostak, served for a period as the party's secretary. In 1982, when Dutta and his followers refrained from participating in the party's fourth congress, a split emerged.[8]

Dilip Barua faction

In 1985, the Toaha faction, the Ali Abbas faction, and the Dilip Barua faction united, and the party became known as the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Barua), which is a registered political party.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Amin, Md. Nurul (1986). "Maoism in Bangladesh: The Case of the East Bengal Sarbohara Party". Asian Survey. 26 (7): 759–773. doi:10.2307/2644210. ISSN 0004-4687 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ Bose, Anjali (November 2013). Bangla Academy Charitabhidhan (in Bengali). Vol. 1 (Fifth edition, second printing ed.). Sahitya Sangsad. p. 788-789. ISBN 978-8179551356.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ Haque, Manjurul (February 2018). "Chapter One". পূর্ব বাংলার সাত দশকের কমিউনিস্ট রাজনীতি [Seven decades of communist politics in East Bengal] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). ঐতিহ্য. pp. 113–116. ISBN 9789847764187. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  4. ^ Hossain, Amjad (1989). "Impact of the Naxalite movement in East Bengal". নকশালবাড়ি আন্দোলনের প্রামাণ্য তথ্য সংকলন [A compilation of authentic documents on the Naxalbari movement.] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). pp. 188–192.
  5. ^ Abedin, Joynal (February 2013). উপমহাদেশের জাতীয়তাবাদী ও বামধারার রাজনীতি : প্রেক্ষিত বাংলাদেশ [Nationalist and left-wing politics in the subcontinent: The context of Bangladesh] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Dhaka: Bangla Prakash. p. 397. ISBN 9843000007119. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid prefix (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ "Haque, Abdul2 - Banglapedia". Banglapedia. Archived from the original on 2025-08-03. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  7. ^ Kar, Ranjit (February 2017). "4". কমিউনিজমের অতীত, বর্তমান, ভবিষ্যৎ প্রেক্ষিত বাংলাদেশ [Communism's past, present, and future perspectives in Bangladesh.] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Rukku Shah Creative Publishers. pp. 309–310. ISBN 978-9848928752.
  8. ^ Abedin, Joynal (February 2013). উপমহাদেশের জাতীয়তাবাদী ও বামধারার রাজনীতি প্রেক্ষিত বাংলাদেশ [Nationalist and Leftist Politics in the Subcontinent: Perspectives on Bangladesh]. Dhaka: Bangla Prakash. p. 390.
  9. ^ "Registered Parties". Bangladesh Election Commission. Retrieved 2026-01-28.