Lal Bahini

Bangladesh became independent after a nine-month-long Liberation War of Bangladesh. After the return of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10, 1972, he directed to draft a constitution for the country which was adopted with four fundamental principles of state policy- Democracy, Socialism, Bengali Nationalism and Secularism on November 4 of the same year. These four state policies are called Mujibism all together.

The Awami League, which claimed to have been committed to establish a socialist economic structure, on March 25 nationalized all the banks, insurance, factories and mills which were previously taken over by the government after the enactment of Acting President Order 1. Almost 80 to 85 percent industries of the country came under the effective control of the government.[4]

As a result of the acquisition of the industries, along with the administrative power the government also got the responsibility of the welfare of the labors who have been working in those industries. This made the Awami League's labor wing to be more dominative than ever. Under government support Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League soon became a major force in politics and formed the voluntary force Lal Bahini that started working from 1972.

Although Lal Bahini members had a little headache about the ideology and it was primarily formed to wipe out opposition forces from the industrial areas around the country, the public speeches of its leadership and its activities during the regime indicate that the force may have been considered themselves as revolutionary vanguards indeed and actually adopted Vanguardism as its ideology. In the context of Marxist revolutionary struggle Vanguardism professes the idea that only one party can truly represent working class. After the October Revolution, Bolsheviks played the role of being the representative of working class.

Lal Bahini aimed at ensuring only one representative of the working class which would be the Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League. It was neither the largest nor the most popular labor organizations of the country.

After the 1973 election, in which Bangladesh Awami League won a decisive victory, the labor front launched a campaign to drive out all other trade union leaders and workers from the industrial areas of the country. According to the Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League leaders:[3]

In view of the fact that the Awami League had won a total victory and since the industries were nationalized for the benefits of working class and the government was establishing a social economy, so there is no need of any other trade union.

In addition after the industries were nationalized in March, 1972 the Lal Bahini chief Abdul Mannan declared that the force was created to help the government to establish socialism and economic emancipation of the working class.[3]

Moreover, Lal Bahini men were motivated by the anti-American speeches which made them to build an anti-American mindset. On May 3, 1973, leaders of Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League and Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni accused Jute Mills Corporation chairman of "smuggling out jute to agents of US imperialism, Zionism and Pakistani capitalists sitting in New York".[5]

Bangladesh Textile Workers League, a wing of the parent organization of Lal Bahini, requested for aid from the United States of America in an application signed by its General Secretary Mahbubul Alam on May 16, 1973.[6]

The exact date and time of the formation of Lal Bahini could not be determined since it was entirely a voluntary force backed by the ruling party and there was no certain table of organization of establishment for the force.

Abdul Mannan who was the head of Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League seemed to have orchestrated the formation of the force. After the resignation of two powerful labor leader Mohammad Shahjahan and Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan from the organization, Abdul Mannan tightened the grip as he became not only the all-in-all of the labor group but also the only one in the organization.[7]

Lal Bahini, to eliminate their political opposition, whom they used to describe as 'bad elements', from the industrial hubs, launched a purification drive from March 1972 after the policy to nationalize the industries was declared. Lal Bahini leaders openly declared crusades against the organizations those were, according to them, involved in anti-government protests backed by United States of America.

In a public meeting that took place in December 1972, extending his support for the purification drive of Lal Bahini, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman threatened to deploy his 'red horses' to finish off the so-called exploiters.[2]

Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League had developed rivalries with almost all other labor wings of the country during the regime but it got a fresh blow after the formation of Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) on October 31, 1972.

Of the most influential trio of the Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League, Mohammad Shahjahan and Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan left the organization in support of the newly formed Jasad with their thousands of followers in December that apparently compelled the only leader left in the organization Abdul Mannan to reorganize the organization.[7]

Mohammad Shahjahan and Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan formed a new labor front of Jasad. From the beginning, Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League had rivalries with the Jasad supported Jatiyo Sramik League and even Abdul Mannan of Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League was found saying, "if the new front pronounce a single word against Mujibism I will cut off their tongue".[8]

Moreover, the Bangladesh Jatio Sramik League in many of the industrial areas failed to create a strong support base due to the influence of left-wing Bangladesh Sramik Federation over the labors working there. Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra (Center) BTUK which was backed by the Communist Party of Bangladesh also had influence over the working class.