The Workers Party of Bangladesh (reconstituted) and Communist Party of Bangladesh has been unified on February 26, 2010 vowing to strengthen the left alternative political force and operate independently of the influence of the two large political parties – Awami League and BNP. The name of the party will remain Communist Party of Bangladesh.

 The leaders of the two left-wing political parties with had their origins in the ideological differences between Moscow and Beijing in the 1960s, announced the merger at a joint press conference at the CPB central office after separate meetings of the central committees of the two parties.

 Leaders of the unified party called for launching a common platform of the left and democratic political forces.

The CPB central committee elected Haider Akbar Khan Rano as a presidium member and Mohammad Habibur Rahman and Shahrier Mohammad Firoj as central committee members of the party.

 The joint declaration was read out by general secretary of the CPB, Mujahidul Islam Selim, which said the political parties serving the interests of big bourgeoisie had failed to solve the problems of the people.

Unity of left political parties is the aspiration of the people who look forward to a left alternative force to address the crisis facing the country.
The unified party will work for strengthening the left alternative political force and also for formation of a common platform of the left and democratic political parties, the joint declaration said.

The president of the CPB Monzurul Ahsan Khan termed the merger of the two major left-wing political parties as a victory of the leftist political forces.
The CPB will pursue its policy of unifying left-wing political parties, including Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal and Democratic Revolutio-nary Party, Monzur said.

The convener of former Workers Party of Bangladesh (reconstituted), Haider Akbar Khan Rano said that he was involved with the CPB before it was divided 44 years ago and today he was happy that the two parties had unified again.
A section of leaders of the Workers Party led by Rano left the party in December 2008, after WP president Rashed Khan Menon decided to contest the parliamentary polls as a candidate of the Awami League-led alliance with the symbol ‘boat’, and formed the Workers Party of Bangladesh (reconstituted).

CPB’s central leaders Jasim Uddin Mandol, Shah Alam, Sahidullah Chowdhury, Syed Abu Zafar and Shahadat Hossain were present at the press conference.

More than 30 million Garment workers of Bangladesh are fighting for Tk. 5000 as minimum monthly basic wage. Their demands include trade union rights according to laws and ILO conventions, all rights and other fringe benefits ensured by lobour laws.

According to Department of Nutritional Science for an individual, minimum food intake to keep him able to work costs at present Tk. 60 daily.

The person also needs housing clothes, Medical Treatment, education etc.

According to another estimate if 45% is spent for food, other expenses require 55%.

For one person total daily cost will be - Tk. 133

For a standard 4 member family the total daily cost will be Tk. 532

Even if we consider that 2 persons in a family work, one person has to earn Tk. 7,980 per month.

This should be the bear minimum wage for a workers.

Garment Worker demanded only Tk. 5000 ($72) as basic minimum monthly wage:

Monthly Minimum Wage of Garment Workers in different counties

• China              - US$    300

• India              -     ''    106

• Vietnam          -     "    92

• Pakistan          -     "    116

• Srilanka           -     "    92

• Bangladesh      -     "    25 (At preset)

If the demand of Garment Workers of Bangladesh for Tk. 5000 as minimum monthly wage is accepted even than they will get the lowest, that is US$ 72.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies observe

• If the price of the product is Tk. 100 the value addition due to labour is Tk. 31.

• Out of this the owner takes away Tk. 24 and workers get Tk. 7

• On and average one whole year a garment worker by his/her labour brings US$ 2500. The worker gets only US$700 1800 dollars go into the pocket of owner.

• The rate of exploitation of worker is 257%

According to World Bank

A Bangladesh Garment Worker gets US$ 290 by producing 2536 T. Shirts per year.

An Indian worker gets 668 dollar by producing only 56 pieces more than his Bangladeshi counterpart

According to CPD

In 2001-12 Export earning of Bangladesh Garment Industry was 4,580 million dollars workers were given 221 million dollars that is 5% of total income. Value addition due to labour was 31% of total price.