The government is working to prevent any form of extremism from arising in Bangladesh, and is prepared to take a hardline approach if needed in this regard, according to Mahfuj Alam, adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

“The government is committed to ensuring that extremism does not gain ground in Bangladesh. Any attempts to create unrest will be dealt with firmly,” Mahfuj said Wednesday,  when asked to react to a report published by The New York Times.

He was speaking to journalists after visiting the grave of Shaheed Masum Mia, who was martyred in the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, and meeting his family at Uttar Rampur in Sadar South Upazila, Cumilla.

Speaking about the sacrifices made during the July-August mass uprising, the adviser said the debt to the martyrs can never be repaid. He added that their sacrifice should be remembered in determining the political future of Bangladesh.

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“The interim government is working to build the Bangladesh envisioned by the martyrs. To ensure that the families of the martyrs get justice for their lost loved ones, the government has taken necessary initiatives,” he said

He called for cooperation from all concerned, including political parties, in building a new Bangladesh based on the spirit of the martyrs. Urging the people of Bangladesh, especially political leaders, to uphold the values of sacrifice, he stressed the importance of honouring the martyrs and the injured in national discourse.

Regarding the Media Reform Commission’s report, Mahfuj said that the government will take qualitative reform initiatives in the media sector through discussions with stakeholders, following the commission’s recommendations.