Biswal lauds Bangladesh

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal has praised Bangladesh for leading the UN peacekeeping efforts around the world.

President Barack Obama’s point person for South Asia lauded the role while speaking to reporters during a visit to the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) at Gazipur cantonment on Friday.

Biswal who came to Bangladesh on a three-day visit on Thursday, her second in a year, said they would continue providing support for the peacekeeping missions.

She said her country would continue to strengthen and support Bangladesh's efforts in global security.

BIPSOT Commandant Maj Gen Maksudur Rahman greeted her when she reached there in the morning, an ISPR media statement said.

She was informed of Bangladesh armed forces' role in the peacekeeping missions and BIPSOT activities.

BIPSOT trains peacekeepers for employment in UN Peace Support Operations.

"The training that is being provided here is exemplary and state-of-the-art and it really is a centre of excellence on peacekeeping training," she said.

Biswal toured the institute and witnessed demonstrations by the peacekeepers.

She paid tributes to 118 Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed during missions and later planted a seedling and signed the visitors' book.

"We are deeply, deeply grateful for the contributions of the Bangladeshi people and the Bangladeshi military," Biswal said.

Bangladesh has the largest number of peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping missions.

"Bangladesh has been a leader in peacekeeping, a major contributor to global security and stability and Bangladesh has made the ultimate sacrifice," she added.