Extremists will not receive any opportunity, says Advisor Mahfuj Alam

“If discussions and warnings don't work, and anyone tries to create instability in the country, the government will take hardline measures," he says

No political and religious extremism will be allowed in Bangladesh and the government will opt for hardline measures if necessary, says Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam.

In reaction to a recent article published in The New York Times, Mahfuj said: "The article wants to say that the country has created an opportunity for extremism or radicalism to thrive after Sheikh Hasina left. We believe no one will be allowed to use such an opportunity."

Rather, the government will play a strong role in upholding democracy and running the country democratically, he said. "We will try to ensure that no extremism or radicalism emerges in Bangladesh. We want to play a role in the country's transformation to a democratic one through elections."

“If discussions and warnings don't work, and anyone tries to create instability in the country, the government will opt for hardline measures."

He spoke to the media at North Rampur village in Cumilla on Wednesday morning after praying at the grave of Masum Mia, who was killed in the July Uprising.

On Tuesday, The New York Times published a report titled “As Bangladesh Reinvents Itself, Islamist Hard-Liners See an Opening,” focusing the extremism in the country.

The Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) strongly disagreed with the article, calling it “misleading” and an “oversimplification” of Bangladesh's political and social landscape.

People in Bangladesh nurtured the spirit of the martyrs, said the information advisor.

"We'll try to complete the trial and ensure justice for the martyrs in the mass uprising. This government works to build the Bangladesh dreamt of by the martyrs, and the people are with us."

He also said, "We believe we can build a new Bangladesh if the political parties are willing to uphold that spirit."

Regarding the reform of the media, Mahfuj said: "As long as we're here, we will work for a qualitative reform of the media. The media reform commission has given details on the central and regional areas in its review and proposals."