Left leaning politicians, academics and journalists attend a discussion on ‘US imperialist intervention in Bangladesh: people’s resistance’ organised by the Communist Party of Bangladesh in the capital on Monday. — New Age photo

Left leaning politicians, academics and journalists on Monday called upon all patriotic, nationalist and progressive forces of Bangladesh for forging unity for the common goal opposing US imperialism.
Speaking at a discussion on ‘US imperialist intervention in Bangladesh: People’s resistance’ organized by Communist Party of Bangladesh at its party office in the city they said sovereignty of Bangladesh was at risk due to interventions the US  was making tactfully taking advantage of various treaties.
They called upon the left parties to forge unity to oppose the imperialist designs, as the ruling classes, represented especially by ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP were serving the interests of US imperialism.
CPB president Manjururl Ahsan Khan said some quarters in the Bangladesh were inviting US imperialists for their narrow interests.
He also called for the unity of peasants, workers, all working class people and the progressive forces for rising against the imperialist conspiracy to destroy Bangladesh.
In his written speech, CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said, Bangladesh did not win its independence fighting against Pakistan for doing slavery of the US.
About a dozen agreements Bangladesh signed with the US like Status of Forces Agreement, Humanitarian Assistance Needs Assessment, Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, he said, were never made public.
‘There are reasons to doubt that, through these agreements sovereignty of Bangladesh was undermined,’ he said.
Workers Party president Rahsed Khan Menon, MP, said in the name of tactical friendship any military agreement with the US was dangerous.
He said a boarder platform was needed to fight against imperialism.
‘We should start the discussions to forge unity on common minimum ground for launching a movement against imperialism’ he said.  
Ganatantry Party general secretary Nurur Rahman Selim described imperialism as the greatest terrorists and the US as their leader.
He said that there was a pressing need to remain alert against new tactic and formation of the imperialist conspiracy.                   
Dhaka University professor and convenor of Palestine Solidarity Council, Bangladesh, KAM Saduddin said that ending imperialist aggression called for an anti imperialist movement with participation of common people.
New Age editor Nurul Kabir said that both the big political parties of the country and the ruling class were doing everything for the success of the programmes of the imperialists.  
He said that they were outperforming the American agencies in this regard.
He said that the two big parties were in a shameless competition to prove their friendship to the US.
He said that the ruling class cares little about national interest, nationalist spirit and the aspirations to make Bangladesh a great nation.
.He said that the need of the moment was a common minimum issue based, effective united movement of progressive, patriotic people inspired with the true spirit of nationalism against imperialism.
Nurul Kabir said that by entering into alliance, in the name of tactics, with the ruling class a number of progressive parties were only taking responsibility of imperialists’ aggression.
He called it either opportunism or foolish.
He said that by taking position like it would in no way be possible to save patriotic, self respecting people of this country.
Dhaka University professor Akmal Hossain said Article 25 of the Constitution of republic, requires Bangladesh to ‘support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism or racialism.’
But the ruling class in this country is completely oblivious of this constitutional obligation of Bangladesh, he said.
BSD leader Bazlur Rashid Firoj, National Awami Party Leader Ismail Hoaasin, Gana Sanghati leader Abul Hassan Rubel also spoke at the session chaired by CPB presidium member Haider Akbar Khan Rono..     
CPB international cell member Hasan Tarique Chowdhury presented the keynote address and CPB central leaders Ruhin Hossain Prince moderated the discussion.