THE 11th Congress of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) was held from October 28-31, 2016 in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The four-day Congress began on 28th evening with a mass rally held at Soharawardi Uddan.  Party workers and supporters, both men and women, attended the open session from across the country. The slogan of the Congress was “Abolition of communalism, imperialism, capitalism and establishment of democracy.”

Addressing the rally, CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim said that the political ideologies which are a barrier to the spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, to the national interests and the people’s interests have to be countered. He severely criticised both the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for working against people’s interests. CPB general secretary Sayed Abu Zafar Ahmed and other leaders also addressed the rally. Fraternal delegates of foreign countries were introduced to the comrades. Due to heavy rain, rally was disrupted. A colourful procession with red flags paraded several streets and ended at the Central Shaheed Miner inside Dhaka University campus. Fraternal delegates from different Left parties of India, communist party representatives from Vietnam, Russia, England, Germany, Pakistan, Nepal greeted the Congress. CPI(M) was represented by Central Secretariat member Nilotpal Basu and Central Committee member Gautam Das.

Greeting the delegates of the 11th Congress of CPB, on behalf of the nearly million membership of CPI(M), and many more who support the Party, Nilotpal Basu hoped that the relationship between the two parties and peoples will strengthen further, in the future. He traced out the historic relationship premised in the liberation struggle of Bangladesh and recalled the glorious legacy enriched by the sacrifice of innumerable people. Basu also stressed the need for further deepening the process in the common struggle against imperialism. He particularly reminded the delegates of the concrete contribution of the CPI(M) in crystallising the Ganga water treaty in which the then West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu played a crucial role. In the same vein, he also referred to the sharing of the Feni river water in which the chief minister of the Left Front government of Tripura, Manik Sarkar played an important role. Finally Basu wrapped up by underlining the paramount significance of building of resolute struggle and resistance to fundamentalism and the related terrorist violence. Basu stressed that, given the common legacy of India and Bangladesh and their respective freedom struggles to build a democratic secular republic, it is precisely due to that such an assault has been launched to desecularise these nations.

One international seminar on “Imperialism, neo-liberalism and religious fundamentalism” was organised by the CPB at the National Press Club on  October 29 evening. Participating in the discussion, CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said, characteristics of international finance capital changed from what it was during Lenin’s time. At present they have no national boundary. Finance capital is freely roaming throughout the world with the only aim of maximisation of profits. Basu said, imperialists cannot survive without any war. He cited several examples on this count. Due to ruthless exploitation by the multinationals and other capitalists, purchasing power of the people is getting declined. Unemployment, price rise etc are on the rise. Imperialism and capitalism do not end by themselves.  They shall have to be overthrown. Working people shall have to be mobilised and united to unleash powerful movement against imperialists and capitalist forces. To change the correlation of forces, communists and other Left parties shall have to work relentlessly. Simultaneous struggles also shall have to be carried on against communal and fundamentalist forces. Leaders of other fraternal parties also addressed the seminar that was presided by CPB leader Haider Akbar Khan Rono.

More than 500 delegates attended the 11th Congress of the CPB and they elected a new Central Committee by voting. Mujahidul Islam Selim and Sayed Abu Zafar Ahmed were elected as president and general secretary respectively.