Peace will return if people can vote freely: Kader Siddiqui

Kader Siddiqui Bir Uttam, President of the Krishak Sramik Janata League, said that peace will return to the country if people are given the opportunity to vote independently. In the past, the Election Commission acted as a ‘minister’ for the government. This time, there is a chance to restore public confidence in the commission.

On Sunday afternoon, November 16, at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, Kader Siddiqui made these remarks while participating in a dialogue with the commission. Six parties, including Kader Siddiqui’s, took part in the second round of the second day of talks with political parties.

The dialogue was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, with the participation of three other commissioners, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, and other senior officials of the commission.

At the beginning of his speech, Kader Siddiqui said, “I have not come to make proposals today. I have come to respect a constitutional institution and participate in the dialogue. My reluctance to attend discussions called by the government has been long-standing. It has been 15 months; I do not go when the government calls. Until elections take place, there is no question of attending discussions called by the government.”

He added, “Although there are 40–50 registered parties, discussions usually take place with only two or three. This is not impartial. In the past, the situation was created as if ‘Sheikh Hasina is Bangladesh, and the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina is Bangladesh.’”

Kader Siddiqui said, “Saying ‘Joy Bangla’ cannot be a crime. If people are imprisoned for this slogan, history will hold accountable.”

He also said that after the notification of the schedule, the Election Commission is the highest state institution. The government’s duty is only to implement the commission’s decisions.

Calling the decision to hold the referendum and national election together a ‘major inconsistency’, he said voters do not know whether they can vote two ‘yes’ and two ‘no’ on four questions. If participation is low, the entire election will be questionable. He added that Dr Yunus’s government has not called their party to any meeting, so he is satisfied with the invitation from the commission.

He said, “If people can vote, peace will return to the country. Bangladesh could become even more peaceful than Switzerland.”