President Abdul Hamid has urged the Bangladesh peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping mission to continue to work maintaining professionalism, honesty, devotion and sincerity saying that Bangladesh is always ready to establish peace in any corner of the world under the UN Security Council.
“It is our expectation that you would work to establish Bangladesh as a peace-loving country in the world and uphold Bangladesh’s flag in the global arena. You would work as goodwill ambassador of Bangladesh and brighten the image of the country,” the President said while addressing a programme organized in observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers here yesterday. Highlighting the Bangladesh’s participation in the UN peacekeeping mission, he said it has consolidated Bangladesh’s position in establishing global peace and at the same time, it has been playing important role in improving diplomatic relations with different countries in the world. “The strong participation of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping activities and different important international forums has taken the country to a dignified position in the world arena,” he added.
The President said Bangladesh is currently one of the largest troop contributing nations in UN Peacekeeping mission and the armed forces and police have been increasing the number of their female peacekeepers in the mission gradually. As the UN has been giving emphasis on increasing the representation of female peacekeepers, Bangladesh will have to take strong steps at the respective level for increasing the number of Bangladesh female peacekeepers, he said. About the Bangladesh government’s initiative for improving the efficiency of Bangladesh peacekeepers, President Hamid said the government is sending the peacekeepers of the armed forces and the police equipping them with Armoured Personnel Carrier, Mine Protected Vehicle, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and other modern equipment. Mentioning the growing importance of Bangladesh peacekeepers in the UN mission, President Hamid said Bangladesh peacekeepers have so far completed 54 UN missions in 40 countries successfully. At present, Bangladesh peacekeepers have been working in 13 missions and two officials of the armed forces with major general rank have been working as deputy force commander in the Central African Republic and Darfur of Sudan. Moreover, Bangladesh peacekeepers have been working at sector commander level in Mali, Ivory Coast and Congo, he said, adding that Bangladesh have recently received more proposal for the recruitment of Bangladesh armed forces officials to the higher posts in the UN headquarters and peacekeeping missions. “It is the outcome of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s strong and successful diplomatic and personal efforts,” he added. At the outset of his speech, the President paid deep tribute to the memory of 130 Bangladesh peacekeepers who embraced martyrdom while working in UN peacekeeping mission and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, UN Resident Coordinator Robert D Watkins and Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq spoke on the occasion.
