The group emerged from the pro-China trend of the communist movement in erstwhile East Pakistan. In 1967, Siraj Sikder had formed the Mao Tse Tung Thought Research Centre in Dhaka. The centre was physically attacked by Jamaat-e-Islami cadres at several times. On January 8, 1968 the group formed the "Purba Banglar Sramik Andalon" ('Workers Movement of East Bengal'). The founding conference lasted, which was completed in a single day, was held in the residence of a jute mill worker in Dhaka. The conference was attended by 45 to 50 followers of the centre.