Expressing his desire to see an end to the conflict between the two South Asian countries, Daily Manabzamin Editor-in-Chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury on Saturday proposed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to hold talks with all political parties soon to discuss ways for facing the challenges that might emerge if the “war” between India and Pakistan is prolonged.

"It seems to me that Bangladesh will be the most affected country (in the region) if the ‘war’ between India and Pakistan continues for a longer period. To face these likely challenges, our politics and political leadership must remain united. I suggest Professor Yunus to hold talks with all political parties about this issue," Chowdhury said.

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He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a shadow parliament debate competition at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) where the participants debated on the causes of the India-Pakistan war highlighting political and historical aspects.

Debate for Democracy hosted the event chaired by its Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

The debaters of Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College won the competition against the debaters from Bangladesh University.

The judges of the competition were Daily Amader Shomoy Executive Editor Mainul Alam, Dr Tajul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin, poet and senior journalist Jahanara Parvin, UNB Special Correspondent AKM Moinuddin and Daily Manabzamin Diplomatic Correspondent Mizanur Rahman.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh is a peaceful country, and the country needs to look at its own interest.

He said Bangladesh needs to remain very cautious while making any remarks, stressing that Bangladesh needs to remain careful so that it does fall into a geopolitical trap.

"We must remain careful from all fronts so that no remarks from our side contribute to war tensions," said the Editor-in-Chief.

Responding to a question, he said the relationship between Bangladesh-India can further be improved as it is now to some extent strained and noted the meeting between two leaders of Bangladesh and India.

Highlighting the dynamics and internal politics, Chowdhury said Kashmir is a chess piece for the politicians of the two conflicting countries.

One of the aspects of this war is the use of fake news, AI, and drones, he said, adding that the impact of this war on geopolitics is very high. "There is no room for taking it lightly."

Chairman of the Debate for Democracy Hasan Kiron said if the India-Pakistan war continues, the world will not be able to bear the burden of the conflict between these two nuclear powers.

In this situation, he said, the India-Pakistan war cannot be provoked as a Muslim-Hindu war.

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If the India-Pakistan war situation continues, it will have a huge impact on the economy of Bangladesh, Kiron said.

"Our import and export will be disrupted, the supply chain will be destroyed, there will be instability in the capital market, the price of imported goods will increase, the time to change the flight route and the airfare will both increase," he said, adding that "if a neighbor's house catches fire, the heat of that fire will also be felt on your body."

Kiron said that during the tension between the two countries, the push-in attempts by the BSF have created new fears for Bangladesh.

At the end of the competition, the participating teams were awarded trophies, crests, and certificates.

India and Pakistan are locked in a rapidly escalating military exchange that threatens to explode into a full-fledged war, triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 in which 26 civilians were killed, but rooted in decades-old hostilities, says Al Jazeera.

On May 7, India launched a wave of missiles into Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, striking at least six cities and killing at least 31 people, including two children, according to Islamabad. Since then, Indian drones have hit major Pakistani cities and military installations, and India has accused Pakistan of launching a barrage of missiles and drones at its cities and military facilities.