"No, I don't see it happening," he said during an interview with the UNB at Hotel Radisson in the city on Saturday.

General Stackpole, now visiting Bangladesh to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the rescue mission 'Operation Sea Angel', observed that Bangladesh has enormously improved its capability of mitigating the suffering of humanity from any natural disaster, in terms of developing infrastructure such as cyclone centres and communication network, since 1991.

He said the civil society and the armed forces are now more capable of responding to the emergency needs for food, water and medicine for the victims of natural disasters.

"You've now more cyclone centres, which are being used for other purposes like schools and medical centres; you have better information technology and communication that gives early warning about any natural disaster."

Stackpole, however, said Bangladesh needs more resources like speedboats and helicopters for relief and rescue operations and observed that the US government could look into this aspect of enhancing the country's capability effectively.

Besides, he said, the US has got high-technology warning systems, which could be shared with the scientists in Bangladesh so that loss from catastrophe could be less. "You can't prevent the act of nature, but a proper planning and mechanism could mitigate the loss in terms of life and property."

Asked about any possible US marine base on the Bay of Bengal for readily extending humanitarian assistance, Stackpole said the primary purpose of military is to ensure security and then to work on humanitarian assistance. Besides, he said, setting up any military unit is very costly.

"Through the Operation Sea Angel we've developed a principle of how to work in another sovereign nation," he said, adding that the US government would readily respond to Bangladesh's request in case of any major natural catastrophe since it is not possible for a single nation to cope with it.

On religious extremism, Gen Stackpole, who was also the president of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, said terrorism is a cancer and a source of global concern.

He said most terrorist outfits, including the JMB, are local except for Al-Qaeda, Abu Sayeem group in the Philippines or Jamaat-e-Islam in Indonesia.

The US general said the responsibility of a government is not only to curb terrorism but also to find out reasons why people are attracted to such devastating path.

"I see JMB lost much of its leadership as a result of good work done by the Bangladesh authorities and forces, but you can't be complacent as some elements might have slipped out to strike again."

He said the US and Bangladesh have ongoing cooperation in providing Bangladesh's police and military officers with support to enhance their capability of countering terrorism.

In reply to a question, Gen. Stackpole, who is also familiar with Bangladesh's politics, said he does not think that the Bangladesh army, which has great reputation in UN peacekeeping mission, would intend to interfere in the country's political affairs.

About the forthcoming elections, he hoped that political leaderships would be able to reach a mutual understanding so that people could vote to choose their next government through a free and fair election.

He said Bangladesh needs a long-term vision and checks and balances of the executive and the judiciary to achieve economic progress by combating corruption and illiteracy.

Director of the American Centre Jonathan Cebra was present during the interview.