Kader Siddique quits Oikyafront

Eight months into joining Jatiya Oikyafront, Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) officially quit the opposition alliance yesterday.  

“Oikyafront is no longer found in the country’s politics since the last election. Therefore, we will walk a new path to stand by people,” party president Abdul Kader Siddique said in a press conference at Jatiya Press Club.

He said that his party will continue their endeavour with like-minded parties to uphold democratic values in the country.

“But it does not mean that we will not work with the people of Oikyafront in future,” he said.

“I feel top leaders including Dr Kamal Hossain are reluctant to lead Oikyafront, and the alliance could neither run any political programme nor stand by the people during their need after the election,” he said.

Kader said his party will totally forget the alliance, as its leaders are failing to support the people on national issues. “I think people have also forgotten about the existence of the alliance,” said the former Awami League MP.

Reading out a written statement, General Secretary of the party Habibur Rahman Talukder said their party is determined to initiate a mass movement.

“We will include other like-minded political parties to build up a national solidarity to establish a sound political environment,” he said.

He claimed that BNP had predominantly nominated their own candidates in the last national election, ignoring opinions of other partners of the alliance. “We joined the alliance to establish people’s right to vote, but BNP did not fulfill the people’s expectations,” Talukder claimed.

He also slammed parliament members from the opposition alliance for taking oath.

Jatiya Oikyafront was formed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Gono Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Nagorik Oikya on October 13 last year ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections. KSJL formally joined the alliance on November 5, and took part in the December 30 national election with BNP’s symbol under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain.

BNP won six seats while  Gono Forum bagged two in the polls.

On June 28, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikya, slammed Oikyafront for failing to launch any movement against the government.

Speaking in an event marking the party’s seventh anniversary, Manna also blamed BNP’s negligence behind the failure.