National Desk :
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was observed here on Saturday in a befitting manner.
Marking the day, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) organised a rally on the premises of Rajshahi College in the city to honour the memories of the UN peacekeepers who laid down their lives for the cause of peace and security in war-torn countries across the world.
A discussion was also held there highlighting the significance of the day.
Principal of Bangladesh Police Academy Khandakar Golam Faruq and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Rajshahi Range Abdul Baten addressed the discussion as the chief and special guests respectively with RMP Commissioner Abu Kalam Siddique in the chair.
Khandakar Faruq said the purpose of observing the day is to underscore the importance of maintaining global peace, pay tribute to those who are involved in the peacekeeping missions and honour the UN peacekeepers who lost their lives.
The Day, 29th May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the contributions of uniformed and civilian personnel to the work of the organisation and to honour scores of peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948.
Combined Forces of Bangladesh (BCF) and Bangladesh Police (BP) are working with the International Peacekeeping activities for the last two decades and performing their duties successfully, he added.
Since 1988, Bangladesh has participated in 54 peacekeeping missions in 40 different countries over five continents with more than 175,000 uniformed personnel, including over 1,800 female peacekeepers.
Currently, there are over 7,000 troops and police deployed in 10 missions (as per data from the Armed Forces Division). Most of the peacekeepers of Bangladesh were deployed in Africa, Khandakar Faruq added
