‎Basad-Marxist to hold 3rd central convention on Friday

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad-Marxist) will hold its 3rd central convention at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital on Friday with a call to strengthen the struggle for establishing socialism to eliminate fascism and build an equal society.

‎The party announced the programme at a press conference at its central office on Wednesday. Central Coordinator Masud Rana presented the written statement.

‎He said the party was working to build a genuine revolutionary political force in the country to lead a mass movement against inequality, injustice and discrimination.

‎"Without a correct revolutionary party leading the movement, any struggle will fail to achieve its desired goals," he said.

‎The convention will bring together representatives of different sections of society, including farmers, workers, students, youths, women, ethnic communities and Dalit groups from across the country.

‎Leaders of several left-leaning parties from South Asia are also expected to attend the convention and address the gathering, Masud Rana said.

‎They include Prabhas Ghosh, general secretary of India's Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist); Parvez Zahid, general secretary of Pakistan's Awami Workers Party; Pubudu Jayagoda, central education secretary of Sri Lanka's Frontline Socialist Party; and Narendra Bahadur Singh, central committee member of Nepal's Communist Party (Maoist).

‎Nepali left-wing intellectual Kumar Upadhyay is also expected to attend.

‎The foreign delegates will also take part in an international seminar on 14 November at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in Dhaka.

‎The seminar will focus on "The Impact of People's Spontaneous Movement and Uprisings in Resisting Fascism".

‎As part of the programme, a rally will start from in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 2:30pm on 13 November, followed by a gathering and cultural programme at the Central Shaheed Minar at 3:30pm.

‎A representatives' meeting will be held on 15 and 16 November at the Economic Reporters Forum.

‎At the press conference, the party placed a six-point set of demands, including ensuring justice for the July killings and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

‎It also called for democratic reforms in the state, formation of independent commissions on enforced disappearances, human rights and anti-corruption, and ensuring the independence of the judiciary.

‎The party demanded guaranteed rights to education, healthcare, housing and employment for all, along with women's safety and public security.

‎It called for declaring Tk30,000 as the national minimum wage for workers and demanded an end to evictions of hawkers, rickshaw pullers and residents of slums and colonies without providing alternative arrangements.

‎Other demands include ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce, ending the commercialisation of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides, and providing adequate subsidies to farmers.

‎The party also demanded cancellation of unequal agreements with foreign countries, including the US trade agreement and the deal signed with DP World.

‎It opposed transferring state-owned enterprises and services, including fuel imports, electricity distribution, railways, tourism motels and 44 state-owned factories, to private ownership.

‎The party called for establishing state control over the energy sector and strengthening national capabilities.

‎The organisers urged the media to publicise the convention's messages and programmes across the country.