MANZURUL AHSAN KHAN: November 2009

Comrade President

Members of the Presidium

Leaders of the Communist and Workers Parties..

I bring warm revolutionary greetings from the Communist Party of Bangladesh to you all who have gathered here representing the most powerful movement, fighting along with other progressive forces, for the emancipation of mankind, for a free society of free men and women.

This traditional international meeting of Communist in the backdrop of dissolution of the Socialist Soviet Union and set back in Eastern Europe, when the idea of ‘end of history’ was floated, has been able to unite communists round the world to evaluate the changing situation, reinvigorate their movement, unite and continue their fight for peace, freedom, progress and socialism.

While attending this 11^th International Meeting we are witnessing the most severe and deepest crisis of Capitalism in the United States and meltdown of a global scale. Plunder and war, militarization, arms trade, overt and covert, gambling, machination of the multinationals, speculations in the currency market and overwhelming chaos is turning the world into a huge casino. The fundamental contradiction of capitalism is blowing up with catastrophic impact. It is capitalism which will cause the end of civilization unless it is overthrown. Capitalist system will not change automatically It has to be overthrown by conscious struggle of the working class, toiling people and broad masses led by the communists, left and progressive forces

People in the USA and other countries want change, a real change. Capitalism is responding to the crisis by mobilising public resources to bail out and strengthen private corporate power.Losses are being socialised while privatization of profit continues. Unemployment, hunger, disease, homelessness and insecurity of people continue to increase.

Imperialism not only exploits people in their own country but continue to plunder developing countries, including their natural resources. And for this imperialism is trying to impose its economic, political and military hegemony in different parts of the world. Pressure, intrigue, assassination, blockade, military intervention, occupation or genocide, nothing seems to be unethical for US imperialism and its allies.

Bangladesh achieved its independence in 1971 after an armed liberation struggle. Just before our victory US 7^th fleet armed with nuclear weapons was rushed to Bay of Bengal to crush our movement but failed.

Ever since our independence US imperialism has done everything from food-diplomacy leading to famine, conspiracy, assassination and support to unconstitutional, autocratic and military governments. The so-called open market economy, privatization and structural reform dictated by World Bank and IMF gong has resulted in de-industrialisation, huge unemployment, pauperization, hunger and poverty. Imperialism did not hesitate to support communal and religious fundamentalist forces including Jamate Islami and many of its outfits operating in the open or underground, extreme right wing elements and autocratic forces to bring about the fall of governments and install governments of their choice who could rightly serve US interest.

It was the machination of US and its allies which brought an army backed caretaker Government to power in Bangladesh on 11 January 2007, who ruled the country for two years instead of three months in utter violation of the constitution. The failure of the bourgeoisies parties to ensure minimum good governance to ensure the stability of the capitalist system, compelled their masters to promote a policy of de-politicisation and to look for a third alternative from amongst the so-call civil-society and civil, military beurocrats trained in the West and with work experience in Breton-woods institutions. However the project failed due to struggle of the workers, peasants, students, democratic and left progressive forces. Election to the Parliament was held in December last year.

The newly elected Government has to face the challenges caused by economic melt down. Basic shifts are required in the policies dictated by World Bank and the West which has led to unbridled price hike, closure of factories, unemployment, hunger, poverty and lack of basic amenities of life

The religious fundamentalists and terrorist, killers, defeated forces of liberation war of 1971, extreme right wing elements, and the war criminals are now trying desperately to create chaos and anarchy in the country and opening the path for foreign intervention.

Historically war criminals of 1971 are the natural allies of the most notorious war criminal of the present day world the US Government. US is putting all kinds of pressure on Bangladesh so that the US and its allies and the MNC’s can plunder our oil and gas in the land and the sea, our coal mines, ports and other resources. The geo-political situation of Bangladesh, bordering China, Myanmar, Nepal and India, particularly its sensitive north-eastern zone, and the Bay of Bengal has made it the focal point of US strategy in the region.

Imperialism is also provoking tension and clashes between countries in the region. We express deep concern at the news of military mobilization between borders of Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, China, Nepal and Pakistan. U.S Navy has recently stepped up its military maneuvers in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. U.S is doing everything to contain China. Bangladesh has already been entangled with USA and almost a dozen of secret treaties were signed between the two countries which greatly undermine the sovereignty and interest of Bangladesh. U.S is putting pressure on Bangladesh to sign agreements like TIFA, HANA etc. which will jeopardize our independence. Our party firmly believes that countries of this region must not fall into the trap of imperialists. We must resolve our disputes in a peaceful manner. We should unite and build up all round cooperation for development, share our common rivers, combine our efforts to make a comprehensive plan for the development of our water basins and ensure mutual trust and cooperation. We should unite to resist attempts to impose US hegemony in the region.

Communist Party of Bangladesh is fighting in the fore front against imperialist conspiracy in the region and its effort to plunder our natural resources.

Today, nuclear arms pose a grave danger to human existence. The number of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction continues to grow. Militarisation is leading to war and conflict. Securities of states and people are being threatened. As a result we can see the emergence of police states or hard states. Fundamental Human and democratic rights and freedoms are being curtailed and a senseless and endless situation of confrontation and war is being precipitated.

We have to mobilize broad forces of peace to step up global struggle for complete disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament and continue fight against war and occupation.

Mankind faces grave danger of environmental degradation and climate change. The very existence of human being and all life forms is being threatened. Capitalisms unbridled lust for profit, culture of consumerism, senseless extravagance and wastefulness etc. are responsible for such a situation. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. We are approaching ecological catastrophe in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

We must drastically reduce carbon emission. We must switch over to renewable energy, eco-friendly development. No energy war but an energy revolution.

It is high time to stop destruction in the name of development. The bourgeoisie will never place people before profit. It is not because they are good or bad. It is because of the social and economic category they represent, the narrow interest they uphold.

Communist Parties should be in the vanguard of the struggle against environmental degradation and climate change. More than a century back Marx said “man lives on nature…. Man is part of nature” Engels warned against winning victories over nature and its degradation He wrote,” Let us not however flatter ourselves over much on account of victories over nature. For each such victory it (nature) takes revenge.” Nothing could be more important than to save life, nature and the earth, our common habitat.

Nothing could stop working class and toiling people from fighting imperialist and capitalist exploitation. New stratum and social forces are coming forward in the struggle for emancipation. Global mass movements are developing on various issues effecting wide sections of people struggle against imperialist hegemony and aggression. Huge mass movements against Capitalist exploitation, discrimination, inequality, gap between poor and rich, struggle against war, for peace, freedom, democracy, fundamental human rights and people’s wellbeing and struggle against environmental degradation and climate change are converging in great waves of popular movements which ultimately challenge the very foundations of capitalism.

Communist and progressive forces have achieved victories in different parts of the world. Anti imperialist, anti capitalist, left and popular governments are coming to power in Latin America and other places. A fierce struggle is going on. There are no straight roads to socialism. Varied social forces and unique elements are coming to the fore with ideas which may not always conform to some of the prevailing thoughts amongst us. Many such ideas are amended through practice. Communist Parties are armed with the theories of Marxism Leninism and Proletarian Internationalism, a theory which has stood the test of time. Communists are not dogmatist. While adhering to its ideology communists should act positively to unite all left progressive and popular democratic forces for a common cause for social and economic justice, equality and wellbeing of humanity.

Communists allover the world has to forge effective unity and act globally while also fighting together at the regional and national level.

Thank you and thanks to CPI and CPIM and other parties who have organized and hosted this great event.