Centre for Strategic and Peace Studies (CSPS)
Back Ground:
Think tanks on various aspects of public life or activities or policies are no longer new to most countries; some of the think tanks are non-profit making. “Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies” (BIISS) is a think tank which was established at the initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and funded almost fully by the government. This is the only organization (think-tank) concerning areas of national security and defence information coupled with foreign policy. It was obvious that there was a void in this regard, in national life. In the above context, to fill-up this void to whatever extent possible, in February 1999, an organization has been setup in the private sector to work in these areas and few more. It has been named Centre for Strategic and Peace Studies (CSPS) which has been established as a non-political non-profit making society under the relevant law of Bangladesh. This is not an NGO as commonly available in our country.
Objectives:
The Organization has been set up with a number of objectives; few important ones are to:
i. promote understanding and co-operation among different professional and interest groups engaged in developmental, welfare and researchoriented activities in Bangladesh and around the world.
ii. promote education, science, technology, culture, contemporary-history, contemporary- theology and conduct research on these issues through support, promotion and development with appropriate institutional arrangement.
iii. promote and conduct research or other studies in areas or aspects of national security in all dimensions, regional security, international security and strategy; regional and international cooperation on security and strategic matters; national or regional or international peace-keeping including peace management/administration in disturbed areas or condition; all of these leading to better understanding of the same nationally and internationally.
iv. promote a better and wider awareness of the link between national, regional and international security and socio-economic matters on the one side and national history and culture on the other side, among the people of own country, among the people of OIC countries, among the people of SAARC countries, among the people of neighboring countries, and to help promote peace and stability in all these countries by reducing apprehensions and tensions.
v. publish books, pamphlets, periodicals, policy or working papers, newsletters, briefing notes, handouts etc. and to organize workshops, discussions, consultations, symposiums, seminars etc. so as to generate research, disseminate results of research and generally meet the objectives of the Center.
Policy and Management
A “Board of Governors” lays down the policy and generally supervises the activities of the center while the Executive Director conducts the affairs on day-today basis. All of them work on honorary basis.
CSPS has been distributing essays, articles etc. through mail/postal service inside the country free of cost. Keynote papers presented in various seminars in English of Bangla language are also available at CSPS office with free of cost.
Vision and Mission
CSPS promotes excellence in education, research and human welfare. The prime missions include working in the areas of (1) Human Dignity & Peace, (2) Interfaith Discourse & Harmony, (3) Food & Nutritional Security, (4) Climate Change & Environment, (5) Youth Development, and (6) Healthy Living.
The Major Objectives of CSPS are to:
(i) promote understanding and co-operation among different professional and interest groups engaged in development, welfare and research-oriented activities in Bangladesh and around the world.
(ii) undertake research and studies in the areas of human resource development, environment, natural resources and all other related areas with the aim of promoting these activities within Bangladesh and between Bangladesh and other countries.
(iii) promote and develop research in management of human and natural resources, and to modernize economic, social and environmental exchanges with new concepts through the establishment of institutions.
(iv) promote education, science, technology, culture, contemporary-history, contemporary- theology and research on these through support, promotion and development of appropriate institutional arrangement.
(v) promote, through education, training and orientation, a new professional generation equipped with specific skills so as to be able to provide dynamic leadership in promoting economic welfare and service in private sector of Bangladesh.
(vi) publish books, pamphlets, periodicals, policy or working papers, newsletters, briefing notes, handouts etc. and to organize workshops, discussions, consultations, symposiums seminars etc. so as to generate research, disseminate results and generally meet the objectives of the Centre set forth above.