Maintain dedication in peacekeeping
PM urges Bangladeshi forces in UN missions
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a function marking International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers-2011 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city yesterday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon all members of armed forces and Bangladesh Police and other peacekeepers to maintain professionalism, honesty, dedication, courage and friendly attitude in peacekeeping operations. She said the government would continue to undertake all necessary steps to upgrade the armed forces and police, so that they could operate in peacekeeping missions with more efficiency and with better equipment. The PM was speaking at a function marking International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers-2011 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Neal Walker spoke at the function. Hasina said Bangladesh believes in peace and Bangalees are a peace-loving nation. “There is no way other than to peace. Peace is the way and with this belief, people of all walks of life of our country irrespective of caste and creed are living together harmoniously and peacefully for centuries.” Bangladesh attained UN membership on September 17, 1974 and has since been working as a vibrant member and maintaining its peace-loving and amiable image in the world community, she said. She expressed her good wishes and congratulations to all peacekeepers, who sacrificed their lives while restoring peace across the world and expressed her deep sympathy to injured peacekeepers. According to the latest UN release, 99,382 peacekeepers of 115 countries are deployed across the world at present. Of them, 10,589 including 180 female peacekeepers are from Bangladesh. Hasina said 103 Bangladeshi peacekeepers were martyred at various UN peace missions. Among them, five peacekeepers embraced martyrdom from June 2010 to May 2011. The present government strengthened UN mission. An additional Infantry Battalion of 850 and an Engineer Company of 180 personnel were deployed in war-torn Congo in 2010, she said. “For the first time, one MI-17 helicopter and one C-130 transport aircraft were deployed there.” She said the process is on for deployment of one additional signal platoon in Ivory Coast. Besides, a good number of armoured personnel carriers and other essential equipment were purchased with a view to increasing the participation of armed forces and police personnel in peacekeeping missions.
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