Vice-chancellor of the North South University Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury at a seminar at the NSU in Dhaka on Sunday emphasised the vital role of individuals in fostering peace within society and the nation.
He also underscored the need to build a more diverse and harmonious community, stressing that humanity must remain the ultimate focus in all efforts toward peace, said a press release.
He made the remarks at the seminar on 鈥榞lobal peace and harmony: Bangladesh鈥檚 role in UN peacekeeping鈥� organised by the NSU Centre for Peace Studies to observe the International Day of Peace 2025.
Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training commandant Major General Hussain Muhammad Masihur Rahman was present as keynote speaker while retired major general Fazle Elahi Akbar, security adviser to Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, was present as special guest at the seminar.
Panellists from the Bangladesh Army, police and academia enriched the session with their insights.
Masihur Rahman highlighted Bangladesh鈥檚 legacy and responsibility in UN peacekeeping, stressing, 鈥楶eace is fundamental to human life yet increasingly scarce in today鈥檚 conflict-ridden world.鈥�
He noted that while internal power struggles and rising individualism threatened global harmony, Bangladesh had historically remained a nation of peace, contributing significantly through its armed forces鈥� sacrifices and humanitarian efforts.
Underscoring the resilience of Bangladeshi peacekeepers who endure hardships away from their families, he emphasised, 鈥楶eacekeeping has strengthened Bangladesh鈥檚 global image by winning hearts and minds across missions.鈥�
He urged a shift from being known solely as a 鈥榗ountry of peacekeepers鈥� to becoming a 鈥榥ation of peace鈥�, calling for a renewed social contract rooted in humanity and identifying education as the key to sustaining lasting peace, concluding with an appeal for the primacy of humanity and global harmony.
During the panel discussion, retired major general Md Main Ullah Chowdhury underscored the growing volatility threatening global peace efforts, noting that peacekeeping remained a source of national pride, soft power and diplomatic credibility for Bangladesh, while also outlining UN peacekeeping structures.
Md Akram Hossain, additional inspector general, finance, Bangladesh Police, emphasised that Bangladesh鈥檚 peacekeeping role symbolised an uncompromising commitment to peace.
Dhaka University international relations teacher Professor Niloy Ranjan Biswas highlighted the rapidly changing peacekeeping landscape, shaped by transnational terrorism, climate-induced resource politics and disinformation warfare.
He called for greater digital literacy, specialised training and technological adaptability to secure the future.
Sazzad Siddiqui, chairperson of peace and conflict studies at the University of Dhaka, stressed the responsibility of political leadership in peace building.
He observed that while democratic peace theory suggested democracies rarely fight each other, current realities showed conflicts between democratic and non-democratic states; nevertheless, he concluded that peace, though challenged by inevitable conflicts, remained achievable.
Fazle Elahi Akbar observed that while Bangladesh鈥檚 peacekeeping contributions reflected its soft power, soft power alone was not sufficient without hard power.
He noted the persistent neglect of defence and foreign policy, stressing that defence, diplomacy, and development must advance in tandem to safeguard national interests.
Recalling Bangladesh鈥檚 participation in foreign missions, he highlighted that the country not only contributed to peace but also shared its culture of peace globally.
He further emphasised that the military should remain outside domestic politics, while receiving due recognition for their sacrifices in protecting Bangladesh鈥檚 sovereignty.
Professor M Jashim Uddin, director, Centre for Peace Studies, NSU, delivered the inaugural address and moderated the session.
Professor AKM Waresul Karim, dean of the school of business and economics, concluded the programme with a vote of thanks.
