Profile - Manzurul Ahsan Khan

Manzurul Ahsan Khan

General Information

Adviser of CPB

Politician

Full Name: Manzurul Ahsan Khan

Affiliation: Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)

Current Position: Adviser

Date of Birth: September 28, 1945

Place of Birth: Bangladesh

Home District: Jamalpur

Nationality: Bangladeshi

Profile:

Manzurul Ahsan Khan (28 September 1945) is a Bangladeshi politician who is the Adviser of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) a Marxist–Leninist political party in this country. His father Late Abdul Wares Khan was a senior government officer reputed for his honesty and efficiency. His mother Late Badrunnesa Khanum was a very caring house wife, looking after a big family of 10 sons and two daughters, including brother in laws, sister in laws, and other relatives. Manzur lived with his parents in Kolkata before partition of India later in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rangpur for a few years when his father was posted in those places. While still young during his school days he took an active and leading part in various social and cultural movements and organisations, such as local clubs, Mukul Fauj, Khela Ghor, Cubs and Scouts etc.

Manzur became interested in Marxism Leninism during his college life when he came across some Marxist literature including the Communist Manifesto. He also got involved in the country wide student movement for Educational reforms in 1962, when the country was under Martial Law. At that time he was a student of Notre Dame College. He also led student movements in that college.

During this time he came in contact with the Communist Party of East Pakistan and joined the party which was banned and working underground during the whole Pakistan period 1947-1971.When in 1964 religious communal riots broke out he participated actively in the resistance movement along with democratic progressive and peace forces. While still a student he also started party and trade union activity amongst industrial workers. He worked amongst workers of press, match factory, hotel and restaurants, road transport workers and amongst workers of unorganized workers. He was elected President Ujala Match Factory Workers Union, General Secretary Hotel Inter continental Workers Union, Chairman All Pakistan Hotel Intercontinental Workers Federation and President of Dhaka District Road Transport Workers Union and some other unions. He was also one of the founders of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra (Center) a national trade union federation and Udichi Shilpi Goshti, a renowned and progressive national cultural organization.

Manzur actively participated in the national movements for democracy, economic, social and political trade union rights, against US backed autocratic, bourgeoise-feudal ruling class, their exploitation, repressions and discrimination perpetrated on the people of Bangladesh.

During the struggle for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 he participated in the war with arms in hand as a Commander of Special Guerilla Force organized jointly by the Communist Party of Bangladesh, National Awami Party NAP and Bangladesh Students Union.

After the victory of the freedom struggle of Bangladesh, the ban on the Communist Party of Bangladesh CPB was withdrawn and the party started functioning openly. Manzur was elected member of the central committee and the secretariat, the highest leadership of the party, at the 2nd congress of the party in 1973.

Manzur was also elected joint secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra at its first Conference in 1972. He played a leading role in the trade union movement and fought in defense of workers rights and interests while fighting against plunder and corruption in state sector industries, for increasing production, productivity and efficient running of the industries. The examples of industries where he and other CPB comrades led the Trade unions set the direction of constructive and revolutionary trade union movement in independent Bangladesh.

Comrade Manzur fought relentlessly to materialize progressive measures taken by Awami League Government lead by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the founding leader of Bangladesh. At the same time he also organized mass movements against failures of the government, rampant corruption and atrocities, and in defense of the interest of the toiling people. After the brutal assassination of President Sheikh Mujib and ultimate military take over Manzur along with many other party comrades and democratic leaders and activists were forced underground. Many were arrested.

During the Military Dictatorship and authoritarian rule Manzur played a leading role in the struggle against right wing reactionary forces, against the assassination of leaders and reactionary take over for democracy, freedom, human and trade union rights. He was also one of the founders of SKOP (A broad alliance of national trade union federations) founded during 1980’s when the country was under Martial Law. He lead and actually was the key figure in many nationwide trade union movements including the massive uprising of garment workers in 2006 and their struggle for a living minimum wage during the last part of 2010. He also organized its national conference of Working Women and was the key person in framing a 10 point national charter for the working women. He played leading role in uniting democratic political parties against autocratic rule, including Gonotrantic Oiko jote, 10 Party Alliance and 15 Party Alliance. Manzur led many trade union and political movements and was arrested several times or forced underground. He was also arrested along with other national leaders of the 15 Party Alliance and kept in military dungeon where he had to face military interrogation under duress.

When Soviet Union was dissolved and liquidationists in CPB leadership wanted to liquidate the party Manzur fought in the fore in defense of Marxism-Leninism and the Communist Party. Virulent campaign was launched globally and nationally against socialism and people were being told that it was the end of civilization. Manzur fought consistently against capitulation and conspiracy with in CPB to liquidate the party. Despite the anti Marxist role of most of the party leaders Manzur took an independent stand in defense of Marxism-Leninism and Socialism. Manzur was suspended from the party. He organized a joint statement by leading communists and left leaders and brought out a historic demonstration on the streets of Dhaka boldly declaring that the struggle for socialism will continue. This was significant for upholding the ideals, struggle and moral of all left and progressive forces in the country. He also united communists and left leaders of the country in ‘Socialist Forum’ for campaign in favour of socialism and against imperialism and bourgeois vilification of communist and progressive movements.

Manzur played a leading role in rebuilding the CPB after the debacle and was elected President of the party in its 7th Congress held from 7th to 9th March 1999. He was re-elected President in the 8th Congress held from 6-9 May 2003 and 9th Congress from 7-9th august 2008. He was one of the founders of Left Democratic Front formed on the basis of unity of 7 leading communist and left parties.

Manzur is one of the proponents of independent, revolutionary and creative role of the Communist Party, Communist unity, idea of a left democratic alternative, left democratic alliance and broader unity of left Democratic and patriotic forces. He considers it very important for the communists to be able to build up and participate in broad mass movement on single or several common issues.

Manzur played an important role in numerous mass movements against plundering capital, religious-communal and fundamentalist forces, imperialism, plunder by World Bank, IMF and multinationals. His role in peace and solidarity movements in support of peoples fighting against US imperialist aggressions and wars, for democratic and human rights, rights of religious and national minorities and on gender and environmental issues is well known. He is a relentless proponent of a fundamental shift in the development paradigm and for an eco-friendly development strategy.

Manzur writes regularly in party weekly and daily news papers. His first book ‘History of Russian Revolution’ was published in 1967. He is also author of several booklets on various issues.

Manzur visited several countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, America and attended many international conferences, seminars and symposium. He was elected to various committees of international organizations. He was awarded Dimitrov Centenary Medal by the Bulgarian Parliament during the World Peace Parliament held in Sofia; Bulgaria. Manzur is also Vice President of Bangladesh Peace Council.

Manzur’s ancestral village is in Islampur, Jamalpur on the bank of the river Jamuna. He frequently visits his village home and loves to keep living link at grass root levels with peasants and workers. He also organizes social programmes to alleviate poverty, eliminate illiteracy and spread education. His humanitarian activities along with other party comrades and social workers during natural calamities and disaster are well known.