This was stated by US Ambassador Harry K Thomas while delivering his speech as guest of honour at the Foundation Day Lecture organised by the peace and conflict studies department of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday. The title of the lecture was 'Not an Absence of War: Peace as Justice'.

Thomas said as part of its support, the US has already provided about US$ 2.1 million for the training of Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

He said Defence Secretary Rumsfeld, during his recent visit to Dhaka, expressed interest in a new regional peacekeeping training institute styled as Bangladesh Institute of Peacekeeping Support Operations Training (BIPSOT).

"We admire the work of international peacekeepers and in particular the important contributions made by Bangladesh," said Thomas adding, "Just as the US role in international peacekeeping is not always appreciated, there is likewise a tendency to see the US as a power drawn to conflict in the pursuit of global domination."

"Those concerned with issues of war and peace cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while this war is being waged. We cannot afford to be passive and we cannot afford to be merely reactive," he added.

Thomas said as crime prevention is a means of protecting people from injury and loss of life, war prevention is a means of taking the measures that protect societies from the dangers posed by global terrorists.

Prof Sadrul Amin, dean of arts faculty, said the world is going through a critical phase. When the possession of nuclear bomb and weapons has proved to be most effective means of protecting from any outside aggression and might has taken the place of right, we cannot help but feel pessimistic about the prospect of any lasting peace in the world.

He said the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq and the impunity with which Israel is creating havoc in Palestine have endangered the very fabric of peace, civilisation and democracy.

Presided over by Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz, the lecture session was also addressed by Chairman of University Grants Commission Prof M Asaduzaman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, Dean of social sciences faculty Prof Harun-or-Rashid and Chairman of peace and conflict studies department Prof Dalem C Barman.