Show professionalism, sincerity in performing duties, Hasina tells peacekeepers

Bangladeshi peacekeepers should show professionalism and sincerity while performing their duties across the world, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“We want the peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police Force to perform their duties with professionalism, honesty and sincerity. You must keep yourself safe and at the same work hard to brighten the image of the country,” she said via videoconferencing at an event organised to mark International United Nations Peacekeepers Day 2022 on Sunday.

She reminded the peacekeepers that confidence is a key factor in performing any duty and they would be successful if they felt confident while performing their duties.

Bangladesh is ready to send more peacekeepers to the UN if needed, she said.

Hasina highlighted the Ukraine war, saying it has left a significant impact on the global economy.

“We don’t want war, but peace. We want peace to prevail all across the world. I believe everyone will acknowledge and remember the work of all peacekeepers, including those from Bangladesh, to uphold global peace."    

Participation in the UN Peacekeeping Mission has strengthened Bangladesh’s position in the global effort to establish peace, the prime minister said. “Also, it has played a significant role in strengthening the country’s diplomatic ties with those nations with strong military powers. The peacekeeping mission members are also earning a huge amount of foreign currency and contributing to the national economy.”

In the contemporary world, it is quite challenging to establish peace, she said. “With fast-spreading technology and progress, different nations’ and other evil forces are posing new threats. Therefore, the members of the UN Peacekeeping Mission are now facing complicated and multidimensional issues. To confront these new challenges, we have prepared our peacekeepers with proper training and equipment.”

Upholding this year’s theme of the International United Nations Peacekeepers Day- 'People Peace Progress: The power of partnerships' - Bangladesh will play a stronger role in establishing global peace, Hasina said. “I believe our young members of the Armed Forces and Police Force are ready to confront the challenge of establishing peace in the 21st century.”

As of now, the UN Peacekeeping Mission has 75,516 members from 121 countries working to uphold peace around the world. Bangladesh has 6,825 peacekeepers working for the UN which is 9.2 percent of the total number of peacekeepers, said Sheikh Hasina.

She mentioned that currently, 519 women are working in the peacekeeping mission.

“I am delighted to learn that the Armed Forces and Police Force have gradually increased women’s participation in the peacekeeping mission. The UN general secretary also said he wanted more women to be recruited for the peacekeeping mission. I told him that we’re ready to send more women to the mission.”

Hasina lauded the peacekeepers from Bangladesh, saying they perform social duties besides their regular duties of peacekeeping, and therefore, earned the trust of the people from all walks of life. 

Bangladesh always supports peace, said Sheikh Hasina. In 1999, Bangladesh proposed a ‘Culture of Peace’ bill to the UN which was passed unanimously. The UN acknowledges it every year since then, she said. The Peace Keeping Operation Training Centre was established in Bangladesh in 1999. Later, it became the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training in 2002 and has been working as one of the best training centres for peacekeepers in the world.

The prime minister also spoke to Bangladeshi officers working in the UN peacekeeping mission via video conferencing.