Khondaker Abdul Motin, Editor From UN HQ, New York, Sept 26, 2018 :- A high level meeting on the Action for Peacekeeping (AFP), organized by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at UNSC headquarters in the United Nations New York, was held on the evening of September 25, local time. UN Secretary General Antonio Gutesas spoke on the theme of the heads of all the countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina participated in the program. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for upholding the status of the United Nations Peace Keeping Program, saying that Bangladesh is giving utmost importance to its reforms.
“We must work with positive attitude towards upholding the UN peacekeeping program.” The Prime Minister said, “Bangladesh is giving utmost importance to the reform of the United Nations peacekeeping program as one of the main contributing countries to send troops and police personnel to this army. ‘
He said, “United Nations peacekeeping is a global philanthropy service. To maintain the status of this army, we all have to work with a positive thought. It has brightened the hope of many people’s life. We must respect the light of this hope. “Bangladesh Prime Minister said,” As a major contributor to sending troops and police personnel in this force, we are giving utmost importance to the reform of the United Nations peacekeeping program. ”
Sheikh Hasina said the members of the peacekeeping force are now being deployed at specific places. There is no such situation to maintain peace in those places. They are being increasingly threatened by anti-state terrorists and rebels. He said that UN missions often work with different standard and type forces. And this makes the United Nations UN peacekeeping missions more complex and dangerous.
“It should be given clear instructions to the members of the peacekeeping force,” he said. In order to implement these guidelines, they should give them the powers and the resources to take any kind of action immediately.
Emphasizing the importance of the safety and security of the members of the peacekeeping force, Sheikh Hasina said that the responsibility of deploying any member of the state should be considered as to how much devotion and skill they have done in their commitment and accordingly. “Their security and security measures must be addressed. We hope that the FPP will help the United Nations peacekeeping force to make them “competent to meet their goals.” The Bangladesh Prime Minister said that the Declaration of Shared Peacekeeping Commitments brought significant results. He said that it has emphasized the collective responsibility of all concerned and which has reinterpreted the political precedence in the United Nations peacekeeping program. Referring to UN peacekeeping efforts to save lives, the Prime Minister said, the expenditure and peacekeeping staff can have adverse effects on the field level. Sheikh Hasina said that it must listen to those who are on the Frontline. The Security Council and the United Nations Secretariat, which have been contributing to the peacekeeping missions of soldiers and police, have to rely on them. The Prime Minister said, the announcement will have to be evaluated along with meaningful progress as well as commitment. Bangladesh is ready to join
Pointing out that peacekeeping has been given priority in Bangladesh’s foreign policy, she said, “We have never been left to respond to UN call on peacekeeping. This year, we have celebrated 30 years of contribution to UN Peacekeeping Program. “Sheikh Hasina said, many Bangladeshi peacekeepers have lost their lives while in charge. We are not hesitant to perform this duties yet. Now we can deploy our peacekeepers at the least possible time. He said, we have arranged for them good and advanced training. They can take quick action in any situation. They have devoted their duty to win the hearts and minds of the people. The Prime Minister said, Bangladeshi peacekeepers are able to provide necessary protection to the civilians as well as their own. He said, with this goal we provided our peacekeeping force with protected vehicles in our own resources. The Prime Minister said, we will follow this policy in other missions too. Sheikh Hasina said she has taken initiative to increase the number of women peacekeepers in her personal interest. “We first deployed our women helicopter pilots in Congo, this is a milestone for us. He said Bangladesh would be happy if we can appoint more senior leadership at the headquarters and field level.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is following zero tolerance policy for sex crimes and torture. “I am committed to working in the Secretary General’s Leadership.”