'We want democracy' (Photo-Reuters)
Digital Desk. Expressing concern over the widespread violence in Bangladesh ahead of the elections to be held in February next year, Bangladeshi journalist Muktdir Rashid said that we do not want a religious country but democracy and neither do we need a rule based on false propaganda. He also condemned the politicization of the murder of anti-India student leader Usman Hadi to take advantage of people's sympathy.
In an interview, Rashid stressed the importance of democracy and fair governance, responding to concerns about the continued violence and the feasibility of February 12 elections scheduled by Muhammad Yunus, the interim government's chief adviser. He expressed hope that the country will 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 should work in such a way that democracy prevails instead of making it a religious country.
Rashid has criticized political parties, especially Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organization 'Chhatra Shibir', for taking advantage of people's sympathy over the killing of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi. He said that unfortunately political leaders are playing politics over the murder of a person who was always fighting for justice.
Rashid also said that despite the ban on Awami League, members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party can contest elections as independent candidates. He described the ban on Awami League as an "act of revenge" by Jamaat-e-Islami. He said, 'I think this is an act of revenge by the Jamaat.
Jamaat has imposed this ban because of whatever happened after the 1971 war. Jamaat remained banned in Bangladesh for about 15 years. We want change in Bangladesh. We want a new Bangladesh, and this is possible only through elections.
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