Kader Siddique says he won't join polls without Awami League, Jatiyo Party
"BNP couldn’t do it, Jamaat couldn’t do it, but Sheikh Hasina still fell. I believe this happened by the will of Allah. Considering the amount of oppression she inflicted and the disrespect she showed people, she was defeated by Allah’s will," says the politician.
Abdul Kader Siddique, president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League, has said that if the voters of Awami League (AL) and Jatiyo Party (JaPa) cannot vote, he will not contest the upcoming national election.
"If the voters of Bangabandhu's Awami League, Maulana Bhasani's Awami League, the Awami League of the Liberation War cannot vote, I will not contest the election with the Gamchha (his party's electoral symbol)," he said on Monday (10 December), while addressing a rally in Sakhipur Upazila, Tangail.
Kader also said the same about the JaPa and its electoral symbol plough. "If their voters cannot vote, I will not take part in the election."
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He said, "We want people's rights. We want the right to vote. When everyone wanted Pakistan, Jamaat supported the British. When we wanted an independent Bangladesh, Jamaat stood with Pakistan and committed killings and atrocities.
"If elections are held with that Jamaat, will I contest?"
Speaking about the activity-banned Awami League, Kader said, "If you count now, the Awami League has 43% of the vote, the Jatiya Party has 14%, and we have about 3%. Now the Yunus government holds meetings with some people — they didn't invite us. And now, if they call us, will we go? No."
He added, "I do not follow Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. I do Bangabandhu's, the Liberation War's Awami League. I want the independence of Bangladesh. I shout 'Joy Bangla'. If shouting 'Joy Bangla' is a crime, arrest me first.
"I fought for the Liberation War saying 'Joy Bangla', and I am ready to give my life saying 'Joy Bangla'. My leader is Bangabandhu; I am a freedom fighter."
Regarding Sheikh Hasina, he said, "She wasn't removed [from power] because of mild dissatisfaction. People had become completely fed up. Those eight or ten young boys did not have the power to oust Sheikh Hasina.
"BNP couldn't do it, Jamaat couldn't do it, but Sheikh Hasina still fell. I believe this happened by the will of Allah. Considering the amount of oppression she inflicted and the disrespect she showed people, she was defeated by Allah's will."
