Kader Siddique Bir Uttam, founder and president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League, has said that being arrested for chanting "Joy Bangla" at the National Martyrs’ Memorial is unacceptable. He said that he would rather have died before witnessing such a situation, as "Joy Bangla" does not belong to any particular political party.
He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an iftar and prayer gathering organized by the Krishak Sramik Janata League in Basail upazila of Tangail on Friday.
During the event, Kader Siddique said: "Many of us may have made mistakes, but there is no mistake in independence. There is no fault in Joy Bangla. There is no fault in Bangabandhu, the leader of independence."
He added: "If one denies Bangabandhu, denies Ziaur Rahman, and denies me, then independence itself will be lost."
He further said: "At the president’s iftar gathering, I was honoured. The president himself came and invited me to sit at his table. I thank them for that. There is no judge greater than Allah—I have believed this all my life and will continue to do so. It is Allah who gives and takes away honour."
Reflecting on the Liberation War, he said: "I do not align with many people. But in this country’s Liberation War, all of us have contributed, shed blood, and toiled with sweat."
The event, presided over by Basail Upazila Krishak Sramik Janata League President Rahat Hasan Tipu, was attended by former Chairman of Kalihati Upazila Parishad Shamim Al Mansur, the party’s Sakhipur Upazila General Secretary Sanoar Hossain Sajib, and Basail Upazila General Secretary Ashrafuzzaman, among others.
