Dhaka, December 19:
The Interim Government has strongly urged all citizens of Bangladesh to resist all forms of mob violence, warning that the actions of a few fringe elements must not be allowed to destabilise the country’s democratic transition.

In an official statement issued on Thursday, the government unequivocally condemned all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of property, calling the current moment a “critical juncture” in the nation’s history.

“This is a historic phase of democratic transition. We cannot and must not allow this journey to be derailed by those who thrive on chaos and reject peace,” the statement said.

Referring to the upcoming elections and referendum, the government described them as more than political exercises, calling them a solemn national commitment tied to the aspirations of the people. The statement noted that this commitment is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi sacrificed his life, urging citizens to honour his memory through restraint, responsibility, and a firm rejection of hatred and violence.

The Interim Government also expressed solidarity with journalists from The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age, who recently faced violence and intimidation. “Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself,” the statement read, assuring that full justice would be ensured for those targeted.

Additionally, the government strongly condemned the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, declaring that such acts have no place in the vision of a new Bangladesh. It pledged that those responsible for the heinous crime would not be spared.

At this critical hour, the Interim Government called upon every citizen to honour Shaheed Hadi by actively rejecting and resisting violence, incitement, and hatred, and by standing for peace, justice, and democratic values.