"We want democracy, not a religious state, nor a rule based on false propaganda."

News Topical, Digital Desk : Expressing concern over the widespread violence in Bangladesh ahead of next year's elections in February, Bangladeshi journalist Muktadir Rashid said, "We don't want a theocratic state, we want democracy, nor do we need a government based on false propaganda." He also condemned the politicization of the murder of anti-India student leader Osman Hadi to capitalize on public sympathy.

In an interview, Rashid stressed the importance of democracy and fair governance, responding to concerns raised by the interim government's chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, about the viability of the scheduled February 12 elections and the ongoing violence. He expressed hope that the country would emerge as a democratic nation with a fairly elected leadership, free from false propaganda and religious extremism. "We want this country to be a democratic, fairly elected country, and the leadership to act in a way that upholds democracy, rather than turning it into a religious state," he said.

Rashid criticized Jamaat-e-Islami

Rashid criticized political parties, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, for exploiting public sympathy over the murder of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi. He said that unfortunately, political leaders are politicizing the murder of a man who always fought for justice.

Rashid also said that despite the ban on the Awami League, members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party can contest the elections as independent candidates. He described the ban on the Awami League as an act of revenge by Jamaat-e-Islami. He said, "I think this is an act of revenge by Jamaat.

"What happened after the 1971 war is why Jamaat has imposed this ban. Jamaat was banned in Bangladesh for nearly 15 years. We want change in Bangladesh. We want a new Bangladesh, and that is only possible through elections."

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