Kader draws flak from sibling

Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui castigated his younger brother Kader Siddiqui for ‘siding with war criminals’ in the light of his (Kader) recent comments that waged a controversy among politicians and the general public.

The Minister could not help but vent his anger at the Parliament session on Sunday in the following a series of comments made by his younger brother, particularly in talk-shows telecast by Diganta Television, an organisation owned by supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami, the party International Crimes Tribunal found to be involved in crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s Independence War.

Kader, throughout his life since 1971, was lauded as the bravest freedom fighter, popularly called ‘Bangabir’ (The hero of Bengal). He did not miss a single opportunity to claim the credit and had been an influential political figure in the pro-Independence party Awami League.

“Shame on you (Kader), you ought to be ashamed,” said an angry Latif.

Latif refrained from calling his brother ‘Bangabir’ while mentioning that Kader had taken part in 1971 war ‘for saving his own life’.

The minister said his brother is at his wits end as he is taking part in programmes aired by Diganta Television.

Kader hosts a talk-show named ‘Sobar Upore Desh’ (Country is above all) in Diganta TV.

Kader, the President of Krishak Shramik Janata League, told a discussion programme at the Dhaka Reporters Unity that Amar Desh’s Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman should be given Noble prize for publishing the alleged conversation between the ICT judge Nizamul Hoque and an international legal expert through Skype.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liked Kader very much for his wartime valour. Kader lead an armed resistance after Bangabandhu and his most family members were assassinated on Aug 15, 1975.

He, however, failed to put up the fight for long and took shelter in neighbouring India. He returned to Bangladesh in Dec, 1990.

Kader joined Awami League only to be expelled some years later. Kader floated a new party Krishak Shramik Janata League on his expulsion.

During his speech, Latif, without mentioning his brother’s name, said he had called himself the fourth son of Bangabandhu after joining the Independence War. “And that son of Bangbandhu now goes to Diganata TV and writes for Diganta newspaper, another media outlet allegedly owned by those financing Jamaat”.

“People have rejected him (Kader).”

“He has been renamed ‘new-Razakar’ by the young generation from the Prajanma Chattar. He has lost all his senses. He (Kader) said if he was a Razakar, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been his Commander. Shame on you for your arrogance,” the minister added.

Latif continued with his speech that seems to have resembled the views of tens of thousands of pro-Independence people who were left shell-shocked by the comments Kader was making before media lately.

“I declare in Parliament that he had participated in the Independence War for saving his own life, not for the ideology of Bangabandhu or for the liberation of the countrymen. The arms you had taken up in 1975 were not for putting up a resistance, but for saving your life. Shame on you, shame on you.”

The Ganajagaran Mancha recently dubbed Kader ‘Nobyo Razakar’ (New collaborator) for what his ‘objectionable’ comments in the Diganta TV talk-shows and various discussions.

The protesters at Shahbagh threatened to strip him of the ‘Bangabir’ title if Kader did not seek an apology for his recent comments.

Latif also criticised BNP and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia in his speech.

“She went silent the moment the youth of the country rose. And then she left for Singapure in the name of treatment. It is part of a conspiracy,” Latif added.