Editorial
International Day of Peace
Key to prosperity
Bangladesh with the rest of the world community observed 'International Day of Peace' on September 21, expressing solidarity with the call to 'make peace not just a priority, but a passion.' We believe these words have given the present global peace efforts the much-needed thrust to drive home the urgency it entails. Truly, establishing peace has to be more than part of national or international politics of the mundane kind.
We are further encouraged to learn that all UN member countries have agreed to observe September 21 as a day of global ceasefire and peace and non-violence (UN Resolution 55/282). In this light, we note, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said emphatically: 'Peace is one of humanity's most precious needs. It is also the UN's highest calling. It draws together all of our worldwide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development.'
The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981. In 2002, the UN General Assembly set September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. In establishing the day, the United Nations General Assembly decided that it would be appropriate: "To devote a specific time to concentrate the efforts of the United Nations and its Member States, as well as of the whole of mankind, to promoting the ideals of peace and to giving positive evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways. The International Day of Peace should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples."
The people of Bangladesh are intrinsically peace-loving and they believe that peace and harmony are two prerequisites for holistic development of a nation. Accordingly Bangladesh takes measures to promote the two in all spheres of its society as well as in global perspective. In this connection we may say with lot of pride that the Bangladeshi contingents in the UN peacekeeping missions have set splendid examples of unwavering commitment to peace wherever they are deployed. And within the country Bangladesh has taken measures to ensure that anti-social or obscurantist elements do not get any foothold to jeopardise our internal peace.
We hope on the International Day of Peace our pledge to uphold peace in the face of any threat, external or internal, will not waver.
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