BANGLADESH Resisting wars and imperialist aggression. Strengthening global unity and the struggle of the working class

The French government has not granted a visa to Mushrefa Mishu, General Secretary of the Demo­cratic Revolutionary Party and President of the Garments Workers Unity Forum (GWUF) of Bangladesh. As a result, she was unable to participate in the ‘Emergency International Meeting Against Global Imperialist War’ on 21 and 22 March 2025, but she had sent a contribution that was comunicated to all participants.

Respected Chairperson,

Comrades and friends representing communist, socialist, leftist, trade unionist movements, and all oppressed people from various countries. On behalf of the militant working class of Bangladesh, I extend my revolutionary greetings to you all.

Today, the world is under a unipolar global system that has effectively transformed into imperialist globalization. The brutal realities of imperialist wars, exploitation, and aggression are pushing the world into a state of crisis. Wars orchestrated by imperialist forces have led to mass displacement, forcing refugees into inhumane conditions.

At the helm of global imperialism is U.S. imperialism, with the European Union states serving as its loyal subordinates. No European state dares to take a stand for humanity against these unjust wars and aggressions. For over 70 years, the U.S., with direct imperialist support, has enabled Israel’s occupation, war, and genocide against Palestine.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched yet another genocidal attack on Gaza. Despite talks of a ceasefire, the world watches in shock as Zionist Israel continues its massacre. Even more alarming is how, since January 25, Donald Trump’s presidency has ushered in a renewed wave of imperialist aggression. From Palestine to Russia, Ukraine, Syria, and beyond, imperialist war-mongering is escalating global instability. The world knows that for over 60 years, American imperialism has set a disgraceful example for humanity by imposing a trade embargo on Cuba. Trump has already declared plans to occupy Gaza and displace its people, an act of barbarism that has stunned humanity.

In response to this dire situation, all revolutionary and democratic forces must unite in a resolute movement against Trump and the imperialist states. The hypocrisy of imperialist puppets has also been exposed—Ukraine’s Zelensky has revealed his true allegiance by seeking NATO inclusion, while neo-imperialist Putin’s war in Ukraine has further demonstrated Russia’s imperialist ambitions. Years of imperialist wars have forced Bashar al-Assad into exile, while the U.S. continues to issue threats against Iran and China, destabilizing the greater Asian region and beyond.

Since taking office, Trump has established a reign of oppression worldwide, even suggesting that Canada become the 51st state of the U.S. Such imperialist maneuvers are deeply concerning for all sovereign nations. While the world is aware of U.S. and EU imperialism’s continued wars and aggressions, there is no room for further debate—their actions systematically violate the sovereignty and self-determination of nations. There may be differences among global revolutionary forces, but on this fundamental issue, unity is imperative.

Imperialism in Bangladesh: A History of Resistance

Imperialist aggression in Bangladesh, primarily driven by U.S.A imperialism, predates the nation’s birth. During the 1971 Liberation War, the U.S.A sided with the genocidal Pakistani military, providing financial and military support against the people of Bangladesh. The infamous Seventh Fleet was sent to the Bay of Bengal in a blatant act of intimidation, only to be deterred by the Soviet Union’s declaration of counteraction by eighth fleet. Then the previous seventh fleet of U.S.A was sent back to its place. Even after independence, U.S. imperialism continued its interference, including its involvement in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975. Since the 1990s, U.S. and European imperialist forces have aggressively pursued Bangladesh’s natural resources—gas, coal, and minerals—through multinational corporations such as Chevron, Unocal, Occidental, and ConocoPhillips. The strategy of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) has been used to systematically loot Bangladesh’s resources.

However, the people of Bangladesh have resisted. Revolutionary parties, progressive political groups, leftist student and trade union organizations, as well as democratic and cultural forces, have been engaged in continuous struggle. In 1998, the « National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, and Power and Ports » was formed to protect our oil gas and mineral resources. It is crucial to note that no post-1971 government in Bangladesh has been anti-imperialist or patriotic. Instead, for 54 years, successive regimes have facilitated the country’s exploitation through institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and ADB.

The People’s Uprising of July-August 2024

The July-August 2024 mass uprising was a direct response to 16 years of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic rule. Under her fascist regime, the people of Bangladesh were stripped of their voting rights and democratic freedoms. The press was silenced, opposition leaders were imprisoned, and political dissidents were subjected to brutal repression.

On July 1, 2024, students initiated protests demanding reforms in the government job quota system. By July 15, the ruling party’s student wing, in coordination with state forces, launched violent attacks on protestors. Between July 15 and August 5, these state-sponsored massacres resulted in approximately 2,000 student and worker deaths, with over 500 individuals suffering permanent blindness due to targeted gunfire. Nearly 30,000 were injured.

On August 2, leftist, student, worker, and professional organizations declared a « March of Rebellion, » demanding Sheikh Hasina’s immediate resignation. By August 5, the fascist Hasina regime collapsed, and she fled to India. Students then declared Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the head of an interim government, which took office on August 8.

The Post-Uprising Crisis

Over seven months into Dr. Yunus’s administration, Bangladesh remains in chaos. Law and order have deteriorated, mob justice is rampant, moral policing has escalated. Alarmingly, reactionary religious fundamentalist forces are on the rise, particularly targeting women. 

During this crisis period, the Yunus government is having trouble to control law and order. 

On February 28, students formed a new political party, the « National Citizens’ Party (NCP), » claiming to be an inclusive movement. However, the absence of worker and peasant representation, alongside its alignment with religious fundamentalist and corporate interests, has revealed it as another bourgeois party. The NCP openly collaborates with reactionary forces, including those linked to the war crimes of 1971.

Continued Repression Against Workers

Under Yunus’s government, labor exploitation has intensified. On September 30, 2024, during a protest demanding overdue wages, police opened fire at the MangoTex Limited factory in Ashulia, killing worker Kawsar. On October 26, at Generation Next Fashion Limited, eight workers were shot for demanding their rightful wages—Champha Khatun was killed. Shockingly, on the same day, the factory owner was hosting a lavish wedding with a model in Paris. Which costed him over million dollars. One the other hand in Bangladesh the workers of his own factory, lost their life to gunfire while starving due to unpaid wages. 

Had I been present, I would have shown the contrast between the blood-soaked reality of Bangladeshi female workers being killed and the extravagant celebrations of their exploiters in Paris. I would have asked French consumers: how does it feel to see the wealth of these factory owners built on the blood of female workers like Champha Khatun?!

Then, on October 31, the joint forces of the current government again fired workers protesting for wages in Mirpur, Dhaka, injuring two of them. At present, over 100,000 workers in Bangladesh are unpaid, thousands have been laid off, and thousands faces false legal charges. Hundreds of workers are facing imprisonment. 

Call to Action

Comrades and friends,

Now you think—how has Bangladesh’s working class been doing under more than seven months of rule by Dr. Yunus, a cherished ally of imperialism? I want to state clearly that neo-fascism is gradually becoming visible in Bangladesh. In this situation, another mass uprising must be carried out under the leadership of the working class for their total liberation, against domestic capitalism, imperialist collaborators, nurturers of religious fascists, and anti-national and anti-people forces.

My final statement is that this isn’t just about Bangladesh—this political position is now relevant on a global scale. Today, imperialist globalization is taking place across the world. 

As Marx – Engels declared in 1948, « Workers of the world, unite! »

Their statement means to the concept of working-class globalization.Despite internal differences, imperialist powers stand united in their class interests. Likewise, we must prioritize working-class unity above all else. The working class across the world must unite against global imperialism in this present time. In some cases, we also have differences in opinion. However, I want to point out that despite having many disagreements among the USA, EU, and UK, they remain united in their class interests. Likewise, we must prioritize working-class unity above all else. Similarly, despite ideological and political differences among communist, socialist, and leftist and other parties, we must unite by prioritizing the class interests of the working class as the principal factor.

We must build a unified political platform for our fight and the fight of the working class against imperialist war, exploitation, and aggression must be intensified worldwide.

I expect that the comrades and friends attending this international conference in Paris will take such decisions.

I wished to attend this conference here in person. But as my visa was denied due to French imperialist policies I couldn’t be physically present.

Though I am unable to be with you in person, our fight knows no borders. Let us continue our fight wherever we are.

Revolutionary greetings and solidarity to all. Red salute.

Mushrefa Mishu, General Secretary of the Democratic Revolutionary Party
President of Garments Workers Unity Forum (GWUF) of Bangladesh