Speaking as special guest at a seminar on 'America's Role in Asia' Chammas said, "The disturbing escalation of political violence will put the image of Bangladesh as a stable, moderate and peaceful country at risk."

She said the August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League (AL) leadership was also an attack on democracy and the consequence of the decapitation of AL leadership could have been catastrophic.

Lauding Bangladesh's contribution to UN peace keeping operations around the world, Chammas said it is the preferred image of the country.

The seminar was organised by the Asia Foundation at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute in the city.

The seminar was aimed to share and discuss the recommendations of two reports under the third America's Role in Asia project run by the Asia Foundation.

Farook Sobhan, former foreign secretary, chaired the South Asian working group for Asia and presented an overview of the reports where he emphasised the urgent need for structured dialogue and interaction between the US and regional leaders after 9/11.

Shameem Ahsan, director general of the foreign ministry, Kim Mcquay of The Asia Foundation, former ambassador Abul Ahsan, Dr Iftekhar Zaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh and Abdur Rob Khan, research director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies also spoke at the seminar.