Socialism in Bangladesh

Socialism (সমাজতন্ত্র) is one of the fundamental principles of the Constitution of Bangladesh, along with nationalism, democracy and secularism. The constitution names Bangladesh as a people's republic, and declares all powers to be vested to the people. However, in Bangladesh, as a liberal democracy, the reference of "socialism" is generally used to describe the state's goal to construct an exploitation-free society, rather than its original meaning and implementation, which is characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. The constitution allows cooperative and private ownership along with state ownership.

Socialist and democratic socialist political parties played a key role the independence movement of both British India and Bangladesh. Upon the independence in 1971, country's founding leaders shaped the economy of Bangladesh as a socialist economy as described in the constitution, however, liberal democracy wasn't scrapped. But due to economic mismanagement and political turmoil, the economic system resulted in a stagnation, with the deadly famine of 1974 further created a humanitarian crisis. In 1975, the country's political structure was reorganised in a one-party socialist republic with BAKSAL being the sole legitimate political party. After the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état and 1982 Bangladesh coup d'état, reformist military leaders would redefine socialism with social justice in 1979 and eventually introduce market and property reforms to push to a capitalist system. In 2011, the term "socialism" and "socialist" were again redefined to make the constitution more in line with the original document, but the country remained a liberal mixed economy.

Constitution
Words "socialism" and "socialist" appear several times in the Bangladeshi constitution. In the constitution, the concept of socialism seems to be more fiscal and social then political. Preamble briefly mentions the socialist principle and aim of the state: "'...Pledging that the high ideals of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, which inspired our heroic people to dedicate themselves to, and our brave martyrs to sacrifice their lives in, the national liberation struggle, shall be the fundamental principles of the Constitution;

Further pledging that it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process a socialist society, free from exploitation a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens;...'"

Article 7 declares the people's relationship with the state: "'All powers in the Republic belong to the people, and their exercise on behalf of the people shall be effected only under, and by the authority of, this Constitution.'"

Article 8 of the re-describes the preamble's reference to socialism as the fundamental principle: "'The principles of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, together with the principles derived from those as set out in this Part, shall constitute the fundamental principles of state policy.'"

Article 10 defines the characteristics of the socialist economy and freedom from exploitation: "'A socialist economic system shall be established with a view to ensuring the attainment of a just and egalitarian society, free from the exploitation of man by man.'"

Further, Article 14 of the constitution pledges to ensure the emancipation of the peasants and workers: "'It shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to emancipate the toiling masses the peasants and workers and backward sections of the people from all forms of exploitation.'"

Likewise to the socialist states, Article 17 calls for free and compulsory education system: "'The State shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of establishing a uniform, mass oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law.'"

Article 20 of the constitution best describes the socialist features of economy with the famous Marxist phrase "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his work", inspiring from the Soviet constitution: "'Work is a right, a duty and a matter of honour for every citizen who is capable of working, and everyone shall be paid for his work on the basis of the principle “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his work”.'"

Early history


Before the partition, region of Bengal was one of the important centers of revolutionary activities in British India. Bengali leaders played a vital role to introduce and assemble socialism as well as communism in India, such as Muzaffar Ahmad, co-founder of Communist Party of India.

After partition, communist activities were re-organized in newly established Pakistan. In 1949, Awami Muslim League, the predecessor of modern Awami League, was established aiming to establish exploitation-free society and abolishment of zamindar system. During the 1954 provincial elections in East Pakistan, Awami League-led United Front gained the exclusive mandate in East Pakistan. Earlier in 1950, Communist Party of Pakistan played a major role in labour strikes for the support of the language movement. The Communist Party, with support from the United front, formed a democratic government in East Pakistan. In 1958, the government in East Pakistan was dismissed by the central government.

Socialist era (1972–1975)
After the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, some socialistic approaches were taken by the Government of Bangladesh, increasing state participation in the productive activities to improve the economic status of the war ridden country. With a view to establishing a socialist nation under a Soviet economic model, many large and medium-sized enterprises and public utility enterprises were nationalized. On 26 March 1972, all banks, and all insurance companies excluding the branches of foreign banks were nationalized.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president and the "founding father" of the country, advocated socialism and secularism in the country. According to him, the country's wealth belongs to all the people of Bangladesh. Everybody will have share in whatever would be produced. Exploitation would be stopped. The constitution was highly dominated by socialist ideas and his party Awami League became the de facto vanguard party.

However, these initiatives resulted a rise of left-wing insurgance in the country, and many anti-AL organizations broke out, like Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) and Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party. A people's militia named Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini (JRB) was formed to handle the insurgance, which eventually involved with extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and atrocities.

The economy also saw a backslide. Reformation process left only the small and cottage industries for the private sector. Public sector expanded very rapidly, but the share of public sector in GDP and in total productive efforts was insignificant. This was because the agricultural sector was left to the private sector, which comprised about 80% of the national economy. In 1974, a great famine broke out in the country, which emerges the mismanagement and failure of the system.

On 24 February 1975, due to increasing insurgency and political and economic mismanagements, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for a socialist revolution in the country, named Second Revolution. Using the powers granted to him by the fourth amendment of the constitution, he formed a new political party, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL). It would be the only party allowed in Parliament. Bangladesh became a one-party state. The party advocated state socialism as a part of the group of reforms under the theory of Second Revolution. BaKSAL was the decision making council to achieve the objectives of the Second Revolution. Government also restricted civil liberties and most of the newspapers were banned.

Growing insurgency, political and economic mismanagements and JRB atrocities formed an anti-Mujibist and anti socialist sentiment in the military. On 15 August 1975, Mujib along with his most of the family members was assassinated. Four of his closest allies and leading figures of the Revolution were killed on 3 November in that year. With the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, BaKSAL was dissolved and Second Revolution failed.

Post-socialist era
After the assassination of Mujib in 1975, new military leaders launched a de-Mujibization and liberalization programme develop a capitalist society. During the years of military rule that followed under Ziaur Rahman (1975-1981) and Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1982-1990), socialist policies and rhetoric were abandoned. Zia withdrawn most of the policies of the Second revolution and reintroduced multi-party representative system. Liberal and progressivist political parties were revivaled, as well as JaSad and other revolutionary Marxist–Leninist political parties were crushed during the post-coup purges. Relationships with United States and other Western Bloc countries also improved by that time.

Economy of Bangladesh saw a de-socialization as well as de-centralization by this time. Many state-owned enterprises were privatised, like banking, telecommunication, aviation, media, and jute. Trade liberalization and exports promoted. Economic policies aimed at encouraging private enterprise and investment, privatising public industries, reinstating budgetary discipline, and liberalising the import regime were accelerated.

Contemporary Bangladesh
Today, contemporary Bangladesh has among the most liberalized economies of South Asia. It is characterised as a developing market economy. Awami League, the party which one time promoted socialism in the country, is currently encouraging free market economy and foreign investment. In 1991, AL president and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina noted that socialism was a failed system.

Bangladesh ranked 128th out of 178 countries in the 2017 Index of Economic Freedom.

Registereds



 * Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal
 * Communist Party of Bangladesh
 * Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal
 * Workers Party of Bangladesh
 * Socialist Party of Bangladesh
 * Krishak Sramik Janata League
 * Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh
 * Bangladesh National Awami Party
 * Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab)
 * Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist)
 * Awami League

Unregistereds

 * Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party
 * Maoist Bolshevik Reorganisation Movement of the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party