Bangladesh, Nov. 30 -- Sculptures are here to stay in Bangladesh. It is not up to the Islamist radicals to decide if there will be any sculpture. The government will decide on that.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira said this to the media on Monday at the secretariat.

On Friday, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh chief Junaid Babunagari said, "All the sculptures in the country will be torn down no matter who they represent."

However, Fazilatun Nessa Indira said: "We see sculptures in many Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey. And the hardline Islamist organizations' threat to tear down Bangabandhu's sculpture cannot be tolerated."

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