He made the statement during an event in Dhaka on Sunday in light of the recent killings of two foreigners in the country, which were claimed by the radical group Islamic State. The president spoke at the opening ceremony of the 44th national council of Bangladesh Scouts, urging the scouts to instill patriotism and promote Bangladesh's tradition of communal harmony among young people. He emphasized the importance of rejecting zealotry, fundamentalism, extremism, and militancy in the country. Hamid, the chief scout, praised the organization for their efforts in responding to natural disasters and encouraged them to raise awareness about maintaining ecological balance to combat the effects of climate change. He also called for a social movement against drug addiction. The president awarded the Silver Tiger to nine scouts, Silver Hilsa to 17 scouts, President's Rover Scout to two scouts, and President's Scout to 122 scouts. The event was chaired by Bangladesh Scouts President Abul Kalam Azad, who is also the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office. The organization’s chief national commissioner, Home Secretary Md Mozammel Haque Khan, also delivered a speech during the program.