Staff Correspondent
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed on Monday said Bangladeshi peacekeepers serving in United Nations missions continue to risk their lives to uphold the country’s honour and contribute to global peace.
“We often fail to fully appreciate the sacrifices and achievements of our peacekeepers. They serve in challenging environments and put their lives on the line for Bangladesh and for peace,” she said.
She made the remarks while addressing a dialogue titled “Bangladeshi Peacekeepers’ Contributions to Global Peacekeeping” at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka.
The programme was organised by the Defense Journalists Association of Bangladesh (DiJAB), a platform for defence journalists.
Shama Obaed said she had witnessed first-hand the respect enjoyed by Bangladeshi peacekeepers during visits to African countries and international forums.
“Our peacekeepers have earned immense goodwill for Bangladesh abroad. Their contributions go far beyond what many people at home realise,” she said.
Paying tribute to the families of peacekeepers, she said their sacrifices are equally significant.
“Families send their fathers, husbands and sons to distant and often dangerous missions without knowing whether they will return safely. Their patriotism and commitment deserve recognition,” she added.
The state minister assured continued support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying the government remains committed to assisting peacekeepers and their families.
Speaking at the event, security analyst Maj Gen (retd) Dr Monirul Islam Akhand, Commodore (retd) M M Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan, and Air Commodore Mohammad Mushtaqur Rahman (LPR) said Bangladesh’s success in UN peacekeeping stems not only from military capability but also from professionalism, leadership, discipline and humanitarian values.
They highlighted Bangladesh’s contributions to the reconstruction of Sierra Leone, the deployment of the first all-female Muslim police unit in Haiti, humanitarian activities in Africa, and international recognition through the prestigious UN Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
DIJAB President Alamgir Hossain said peacekeepers often make immense personal sacrifices while serving overseas.
“Many miss the birth of their children and are unable to return home even when close family members pass away. Yet they continue their duties under constant risk to life in the service of Bangladesh and global peace,” he said.
The keynote paper was presented by Dr Towhidul Haque, associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at the University of Dhaka.
According to the paper, Bangladesh joined UN peacekeeping operations in 1988 with only 15 military observers and has since become one of the world’s leading troop-contributing countries.
More than 206,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have served in over 63 missions across 43 countries, while 4,212 members of the armed forces and police are currently deployed in UN missions worldwide.
The paper also noted that 175 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.
The dialogue was chaired by DiJAB President Alamgir Hossain and moderated by its Secretary General Tarikul Islam Masum.
Among others, former ISPR Director Lt Col (retd) Abdullah Ibn Zayed, Dhaka University professors Dr Abdul Mannan and Dr Saber Ahmed Chowdhury, former DiJAB presidents Abul Khayer and Mamunur Rashid, senior journalist Masud Karim, and Imrul Kayes, general secretary of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), attended the event.
The programme began with a one-minute silence in memory of Bangladeshi peacekeepers who lost their lives in UN missions. Participants called for greater efforts to promote awareness among younger generations about Bangladesh’s contributions to international peacekeeping.
Representatives from several foreign missions in Dhaka attended the event, including Mahadi Al Hasnat, Press Specialist at the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Dhaka.
