Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said that peacekeepers are the “ambassadors of peace and branding Bangladesh abroad as a peace-loving nation and contributing to building a peaceful global order.”
He was inaugurating the ‘Peacekeepers Day’ run to commemorate the 'International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers’-2021.
Bangladesh is one of the top contributors of the UN peacekeeping operations.
The foreign minister felicitated all peacekeepers for their dedicated service to humanity and hoped that their endeavors will help achieve sustainable peace for the international community.
“This is not just a run; it embodies our great contribution to world peace and security. Our constitutional obligations mandate us to seek peace and remain at the forefront of the UN Peacekeeping operations in various conflict zones,” he said.
“Our participation in the peacekeeping operations and devoted service and sacrifices of our peacekeepers make us proud as a nation. Our contribution to world peace helps us keep our head high in the international forum. The whole world lauds us for our leading role in the maintenance of international peace and security and our professionalism,” he said.
“What could be a better way to fulfill the dream of our Father of the Nation for a peaceful world who so ardently declared in his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly way back in 1974 and I quote ‘I know that the souls of our martyrs join us in pledging that the Bangalee nation fully commits itself to the building of a world order, in which the aspiration of all men for peace and justice will be realized.’”
He also remembered the fearless sons of our land who sacrificed their lives or suffered injuries in foreign countries in the course of their duties.
“This day also provides an occasion to recall the contribution of all the peacekeepers who are serving round the clock to protect many of the world’s most vulnerable with dedication, distinction, and courage. On this day, we especially salute those peacekeepers who made their supreme sacrifice.”
The foreign minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has been pursuing a dynamic foreign policy based on the principle of “Friendship to all, malice towards none”, as enunciated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Imbued with this value, Bangladesh has consistently contributed in all ways possible to international peace and security.
“Today, Bangladesh remains a proud contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and is currently the top contributor of military and police to UN Peacekeeping with almost six and a half thousand peacekeepers currently deployed in 8 countries.
“Our peacekeepers are deployed in some of the most challenging hotspots in the world where they diligently work for the peace, security and human rights of the local people and the protection of civilians along with performing other multifaceted roles.
“Even during this global Pandemic, our peacekeepers continue to serve in various peacekeeping missions, fearlessly rendering their responsibilities,” he said.
