Proletarian Party Of East Bengal

Proletarian Party of East Bengal ( bn, পূর্ব বাংলার সর্বহারা পার্টি) also known as Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party, abbreviated as PPEB or PBSP, is an outlawed Marxist-Leninist-Maoist communist political party in Bangladesh. It was established by Siraj Sikder on 3 June 1971, in the Barisal district amidst the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. The party played a major role in the independence of the country. In the early 1970s, it participated in armed struggles in support of the newly formed state of Bangladesh. However, its political influence has since waned due to multiple waves of internal divisions. Despite this, the group remains active and continues to carry out attacks against its adversaries.

Origins

The group emerged from the pro-China faction of the communist movement in what was then East Pakistan. In 1967, Siraj Sikder had established the Mao Tse Tung Thought Research Centre in Dhaka. The centre was subjected to physical attacks by Jamaat-e-Islami cadres on several occasions. On 8 January 1968, the group established the 'Purba Banglar Sramik Andalon' (Workers Movement of East Bengal). The founding conference, which was completed in a single day, took place at the residence of a jute mill worker in Dhaka. The conference was attended by 45 to 50 followers of the centre.

The stance of this faction was distinctly different from other pro-Chinese groups in East Pakistan at the time. Sikdar's faction viewed Pakistan as a colonial power and advocated for national liberation for East Bengal, aiming to establish a Democratic Republic of East Bengal. This position was in stark contrast to the official foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which generally sided with Pakistan against India. This stance was also more radical than that of the mainstream Bengali nationalist movement. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a prominent figure in the movement, denounced the Sikdar faction as 'pro-Chinese provocateurs'.

The group also opposed American imperialism, Soviet social imperialism, Indian expansionism, and feudalism.

In mid-1968 the movement initiated covert operations. Their first action involved capturing a cyclostyle printing machine, which they used to print the theoretical organ of the movement, 'Lal Jhanda' (Red Flag). On 8 January 1970, the group hoisted the flag of East Bengal (now the national flag of Bangladesh) at Dhaka, Munshigonj, and Mymensingh. On Karl Marx's birthday, 6 May 1970, the group launched a bomb attack on the Pakistan Council office in Dhaka. In October of the same year, the group carried out bomb attacks on several buildings throughout East Pakistan, including the American Information Centre.

Liberation War

At the onset of the Liberation War in 1971, the Sikder faction was actively involved in establishing national resistance cells. On 30 April, they formed their own paramilitary force, known as the 'Purba Banglar Sashastra Deshapremik Bahini' (Armed Patriotic Force of East Bengal). This force initiated an armed struggle against the Pakistani army. This faction was one of the many pro-China groups that actively participated in the liberation war.
During this period, the official stance of the PRC was that East Bengal was part of Pakistan, and they viewed Indian expansionism as the primary threat to the region. Despite this, the group regarded the mainstream nationalist movement as class enemies.

The Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party (PBSP) was officially established as a political party on 3 June 1971 during a meeting held in the Barisal district.

Post-independence

Following the independence of Bangladesh, PBSP emerged as a significant contender against the newly formed Awami League-government, which it perceived as puppets of India. The party’s inaugural congress was convened on 14 January 1972, during which Sikder was elected as the Chairman.

In April 1973, the 'Purba Banglar Jatiya Mukti Front' was established as a coalition of 11 groups, with Sikder assuming the role of president of the front. Upon its formation, the party launched an armed campaign against the state of Bangladesh.
The party had substantial support within university circles and maintained a strong presence despite being an underground movement. It regularly published its Central Committee’s publications and had an effective propaganda operation. Among its publications were 'Lal Jhanda' and Sangbad Bulletin.

Death of Sikder

In December 1974, Sikder was apprehended in Halishahar, Chittagong by the state intelligence service. He was killed on the night of 2 January 1975 near the Savar Thana Bus Stand (Ganda) while being transported from Dhaka airport to a paramilitary camp in Savar.

Following Sikder's death, the party divided into two factions. These factions subsequently split even further. The major faction was led by Siraj Sikder's second in command, Md. Hamidul Hoque, who assumed leadership of the party. A splinter group diverged from Maoism and embraced the political ideology of the Albanian Communists. This group eventually rebranded itself as the Communist Party of Bangladesh.

Party today

The group currently viewed as the successor to the original PBSP is commonly known as the PBSP Central Committee, PBSP(CC). This party continues to operate underground and advocates for an armed revolution. Under the leadership of Anwarul Kabir, also known as Abdur Rouf, the party is activitie in several districts, including the Sirajganj, Bogra, Pabna, Rajshahi, and Khulna. The party is affiliated to the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement and CCOMPOSA.

In 2001, a faction separated from the PBSP(CC) and established a new entity known as the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party (Maoist Bolshevik Reorganisation Movement).

In May 2013, six members of the PBSP were apprehended, and they were found in possession of pipe guns and homemade rifles.

See also

* Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia

References

{{Reflist

External links

Sarbahara - Siraj Sikder works in English
Politics of the Bangladesh Liberation War
Communist militant groups
Communist parties in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Maoist organisations in Bangladesh
Maoist parties
Paramilitary organisations based in Bangladesh
Revolutionary Internationalist Movement
Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist
Terrorism in Bangladesh