Mahfuj: The government will take necessary measures to prevent the rise of political or religious extremism

Mahfuj: Extremism Will Not Be Allowed to Take Root in Bangladesh

Referring to a recent report by The New York Times, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preventing the exploitation of extremism in Bangladesh. He emphasized that every effort will be made to ensure that no political or religious extremism gains ground in the country.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after visiting the grave of Masum Mia—a martyr of the July uprising—in Uttar Rampur village, Sadar South upazila, Comilla, Mahfuj also met with the martyr’s family, as reported by Bangla Tribune.

He stated: “The New York Times report mentioned that an opportunity for extremism has emerged in Bangladesh. We will not allow anyone to take advantage of this. The government is fully committed to preventing the rise of political or religious extremism. Through elections, we aim to facilitate democratic transformation. If dialogue and warnings fail and any attempt is made to destabilize the country, the government will take a firm stance.”

Mahfuj further urged the people of Bangladesh to uphold the spirit of the martyrs, pledging to complete the judicial process for those who sacrificed their lives in the July uprising. “The government is dedicated to building the Bangladesh envisioned by the martyrs, with the support of the people. If political parties act in goodwill and in line with this vision, we can collectively build a new Bangladesh.”

He also addressed the need for reforms in the media sector, stating: “As long as we are here, we want to bring qualitative improvements to the media landscape. The Media Reform Commission’s review and recommendations offer a comprehensive analysis of both rural and central media.”