Abdul Kader Siddique (Bengali: আবদুল কাদের সিদ্দিকী) is a Bangladeshi politician. He served as a Mukti Bahini member and organizer of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He fought with an estimated 17,000-strong guerrilla force in the Tangail region against the Pakistan Army.[2] The army was called Kaderia Bahini (Kader's Army).[3][4][5] At the end of the war in 1971, Siddique's forces entered Dhaka along with the Indian forces, signaling the end of the war.[6] He was awarded Bir Uttom by the Government of Bangladesh. Since 1999, he has been serving as the leader of his newly formed party, the Krishak Sramik Janata League.[7]
Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique | |
|---|---|
আবদুল কাদের সিদ্দিকী | |
.jpg) Siddique in 2017 | |
| Member of the Bangladesh Parliament | |
| In office 2001–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Shawkat Momen Shahjahan |
| Succeeded by | Shawkat Momen Shahjahan |
| Constituency | Tangail-8 |
| In office 1996–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Humayun Khan Panni |
| Succeeded by | Shawkat Momen Shahjahan |
| Constituency | Tangail-8 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1947 (age 76–77) Dacca, East Bengal, Pakistan |
| Political party | Krishak Sramik Janata League |
| Other political affiliations | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | Nasrin Siddique |
| Relatives | Abdul Latif Siddiqui (brother)[1] |
| Awards |  Bir Uttom |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Branch/service | 
Mukti Bahini |
| Unit | Kaderia Bahini |
| Battles/wars | Bangladesh Liberation War |
Career
editDuring the Bangladesh Liberation war, he formed the Kaderia Bahini to fight against the Pakistan military. The Kaderia Bahini, as it is said, had approximately 17 thousand personnel. He was loyal to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[8]
After the Independence of Bangladesh, Siddique went back to his home town of Tangail where he enjoyed considerable patronage from the Awami League, the party of Prime Minister Mujibur Rahman.[9]
After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Siddiqui and his followers organised attacks on the authorities of Khondakar Mushtaque's government. Elements loyal to Siddiqui operated from bases in Assam province in India and were actively supported by India's Border Security Force.[9] In the insurgency against the military government of Bangladesh, 104 rebels were killed and more than 500 were injured. The insurgency lasted more than two years.[10] He was tried by a military court on 24 July 1978, and sentenced to 7 years in jail. He was accused of killing a major and a number of soldiers of Bangladesh Army after the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état.[11] On 6 December 1990, he returned to Bangladesh from self imposed exile in India.[citation needed]
Siddique was elected member of the parliament of Bangladesh from different constituencies of Tangail.
In 1996, Siddique was elected to Parliament as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate from Tangail-8.[12] In 1999, Siddique quit Awami League. He then resigned from the parliament and formed his own party the Krishak Sramik Janata League.[7] This triggered a by-election, which he lost to the Bangladesh Awami League candidate, Shawakat Momen Shahjahan. Siddique was elected to parliament from Tangail 8 in the 2001 Bangladesh General Election as a candidate of the Krishak Sramik Janata League.[12] On 17 October 2006, his rally was attacked by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, leaving 11 injured in Jamalpur District.[13]
In 2017, Bangladesh High Court disqualified Siddique from contesting a by-election from Tangail-4 because he had defaulted on a loan. He tried to contest the 2018 Bangladesh General Election from Tangail-4 and Tangail-8 but his candidacy was rejected by the Bangladesh Election Commission.[14] He, along with his party, joined the Jatiya Oikyafront to contest the election against the Bangladesh Awami League alliance.[15][16] His daughter, Kuri Siddique, also applied for nomination from Tangail-8 in case his candidacy was rejected.[17] The Election Commission rejected the appeal filed by Siddique, challenging the cancellation of his nomination on 8 December.[18]
Personal life
editSiddique is married to Nasrin Siddique.[19] His elder brother Abdul Latif Siddiqui is also an Awami League politician who served as the member of parliament and the minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.[1] Their other two younger brothers are Murad Siddiqui and Azad Siddiqui.[20]
References
edit- ^ a b "Kader Siddique's nomination cancelled, his party calls Tangail shutdown for Wednesday". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ Brian May, "Indian Army Arrests 'Tiger of Tangail' After Dacca Bayoneting", The Times, 21 December 1971, pg. 4.
- ^ Shakil, Mirza (13 December 2021). "In pictures: Kader Siddique and his 'Kaderia Bahini' during Liberation War". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Shakil, Mirza (26 March 2021). "Operation Jahajmara: A turning point in the Liberation War history". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Tangail freed on this day". The Daily Star. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Mukti Bahini". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 26 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Quader holds talks with Kader Siddique". The Daily Star. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ De, Barun; Samāddāra, Raṇabīra (1997). State, development, and political culture: Bangladesh and India. Har-Anand Publications. p. 137. ISBN 9788124104552.
- ^ a b Lifschultz, Lawrence (1979). Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution. Zed Press. p. 64. ISBN 0-905762-07-X.
Kader Siddiqui appalled both Bengalis and foreigners when, in public, shortly after the liberation of Dacca, he personally bayoneted three alleged collaborators to death. The entire incident was filmed from start to finish by foreign film crews whom he had invited to the spectacle. He returned to Tangail after independence and became the recipient of substantial Awami League patronage. Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 1975, Siddiqui and his followers began to offer resistance to the post-coup authorities headed by Khondakar Mustaque. Elements identifying themselves with Siddiqui gradually withdrew to India and, with the active and direct assistance of the Indian Government's Border Security Force, set up training camps in the Assam border area.
- ^ "Those who protested that day". en.banglainsider.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Refworld | Bangladesh: Information on Mr. Abdul Kader Siddiqi (Siddique/Siddiqui)". Refworld. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ a b "4 Siddique brothers to contest from Tangail constituencies". Dhaka Tribune. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Kader Siddiqui's rallies attacked in Jamalpur". The Daily Star. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Kader Siddique's candidacy rejected". Dhaka Tribune. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Kader joins Oikyafront". The Daily Star. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Kader Siddique joins Oikya Front". Daily Sun. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Kader Siddique and daughter submit nomination forms in Tangail 8". Dhaka Tribune. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "EC rejects Kader Siddique's appeal". Dhaka Tribune. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Wanted Kader Siddiqui waiting for police at home". bdnews24.com. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Four Siddiqui brothers to run in Tangail-3,4,5,8". The Daily Star. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2018.