Tangail, Apr 05 (V7N) – Krishak Sramik Janata League President Bangabir Abdul Quader Siddiqui has said that the fall of Sheikh Hasina on August 5—if it happens—does not signify the fall of independence, while expressing support for the revolutionaries of the past.

"I applaud those who made the revolution in August. If they could have carried on properly, people would have remembered them for many years. But they questioned the very idea of independence. They do not respect Bangabandhu, Ziaur Rahman, or even any of us. This is not a good thing,” he said.

He made these remarks on Friday (April 4) while speaking to journalists after visiting the graves of his parents in Chatihati village, Kalihati upazila of Tangail.

Reflecting on the country’s history, Quader Siddiqui said, “Allah gave us victory, and Bangladesh gained independence. The buildings, homes, and roads we see today would not exist without it. But it is deeply unfortunate that many people now hesitate to acknowledge that independence.”

He also strongly condemned the arrest of individuals for chanting 'Joy Bangla' at the National Memorial on March 26, saying, “‘Joy Bangla’ was the slogan of the Liberation War in independent Bangladesh. It does not belong to any party, group, or individual. It is the slogan of the nation’s struggle for freedom. As long as Bangladesh exists, Joy Bangla will exist.”

In a personal and emotional declaration, the veteran freedom fighter added, “I haven't said ‘Joy Bangla’ in the last 25 years. Today, I swear on the graves of my mother and father— from this day forward, I will say ‘Joy Bangla’. The slogan of the freedom-loving people of Bangladesh will be ‘Joy Bangla’.”

His statement comes at a time of increased political tension and national discourse on the identity, legacy, and slogans of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.

END/MSS/AJ