"The war on terrorism has to be well defined so that Islam is not hurt in the process," Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed said at the conference, organised by the Institute of Hazrat Mohammad at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Islam is a religion of tolerance and harmony and it never advocates violence and terrorism, the minister said and cautioned against using Islam for fundamentalist purposes.

Although Islam is state religion of Bangladesh, it does not mean Bangladesh is a religion-based state, he said, adding 17 other countries in the world have their state religions.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Harry K Thomas said religion and terrorism are completely incompatible, and religion can be a predominant tool of understanding among the peoples. If misused, religion can lead to destructive ends, he thought.

Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said it is natural for the followers of a particular religion to take pride in their faith but being arrogant about it is destructive.

"While we are proud of our religion, we must at the same time acknowledge others' right to take pride in their religions," he noted.

Editor of the Prothom Alo Motiur Rahman said all religions stand for peace, harmony and love for humanity, and there is no room for violence in Islam.

The concept of jihad in Islam does not imply clash and violence, he stressed.

Russian Ambassador Oleg S Malginov said religion has an integrating role and has to act as an identity code in the face of social fragmentation in today's world.

Italian Ambassador Pietro Ballero said every religious group has a faith of its own but when any particular group claims its religion alone knows the truth and is on the right track, it gives rise to fanaticism.

German Ambassador Dietrich Andreas thought the world community has to work together to protect the principles of tolerance and mutual understanding.

The morning session of the conference, chaired by president of the institute major general (rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, was also addressed by UNFPA representative Suneeta Mukharjee, former minister Nooruddin Khan, Acharya Dharmanidhi Mohathera, Acharya Samaddar and Lt Col Ethne Flintoff of Salvation Army Bangladesh.