Concerted efforts a must to establish secular democratic society: Menon

Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon has said united efforts should continue to create a secular democratic society against imperialism and religious fanaticism.

Menon said this at a webinar organised on Sunday on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Indian Communist Movement at the initiative of Bangladesh Workers Party.

"Our struggle is to establish a democratic society. So, we have to work together.

"Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we have had to face various problems in our social, political and cultural life. But the crisis is never-lasting. In the twenty-first century, we got to work with new spirit and vigour."

The virtual programme was moderated by Sushanta Das, one of the politburo leaders of the party, while Fazle Hossain Badsha, general secretary, presented the keynote paper.

Sitaram Yechury, All India General Secretary of Communist Party, India, senior central leader of Communist Party, Nepal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, also former Prime Minister, Ayaz Mohammad, international secretary, Communist Party, Pakistan, and G Devarajan, in-charge, International Committee of All India Forward Bloc, participated in the webinar.

In his keynote address, Fazle Hossain Badshah highlighted the history of various leftist movements in Bangladesh, especially the Tebhaga movement, Tonka movement, Nankar movement, Ullapara movement, Tripura tribal movement and many more.

He recalled how the working-class people played an important role in the anti-British movement.

Sitaram Yechury said communists in South Asian countries have made significant contributions for centuries since the founding of Communist Party.

He said although the Communist Party was established in the Indian subcontinent in 1920, it gradually spread to South Asia including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The Indian ruling class is currently pursuing US policy, he added.

Yechury observed that China and Vietnam have shown their ability during the pandemic only because of their socialist system.

Madhav Kumar Nepal said the communist movement in South Asia has gone through historical, dialectical and materialistic trends for centuries.

The establishment of Communist Party in India had an impact on South Asia, including in Nepal. The Communist Party of Nepal was founded in 1949.

"We have a lot of responsibilities, he said, adding that proper rules need to be abided by.

"We have to work for common people, and while doing so, there will be a lot of problems to face, but we should not be daunted, nor should we stop to do our jobs."

Ayaz Mohammad recalled that the Communist Party of Pakistan was founded in 1948 when Sajjad Zaheer led the party, and was secretly trying to build a party with the participation of workers and peasants.

The party formed its base in Pakhtun Khoya and in the province of North-West frontier.

Debrajan said 11 of the 13 trade unions in India are led by the Left.

"Even though a larger movement has been formed with the help of workers and peasants, we are yet to reflect that in the ballot box."