TDS Desk:

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that Islamic extremism will never find a place in Bangladesh again.

The Chief Adviser made the remark during a recent interview with Patrick Foulis, the foreign editor of the British weekly magazine The Economist.

“I can assure that’s not taking place at all. These are very enthusiastic young people — they are very neutral about their religion,” Yunus said.

Yunus’s response came when Foulis mentioned both American and Indian officials have warned that there is some risk of Islamic extremism coming back in Bangladesh.

The interview was taken on the occasion of Bangladesh being selected as The Economist’s country of the year for 2024, an accolade that the influential magazine hands out every year to a country it deems to be the most improved country in the world.

“But for toppling a despot and taking strides towards a more liberal government, Bangladesh is our country of the year,” The Economist said.

In response, Yunus said: “We are delighted. We feel very proud that we made a big change because of the student uprising that took place. And from then on, we are saying we are creating a new Bangladesh.”

The youth want to build a new Bangladesh, he said.

“Young people can change the whole world. It’s not about changing one country or another country. What Bangladesh has done is one example of how powerful this young generation is. Let’s pay attention to the young people.”