UN Peacekeeping: Army chief reiterates continued support
Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed reiterated Bangladesh's unwavering commitment and continued support to the UN peace operations during his meetings with top UN officials this week, said an ISPR press release issued on Wednesday.
The army chief, who is now on a visit to the USA, also called for the deployment of more Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions globally.
He requested appointment of more Bangladeshi officers in senior positions of the peace operations and the UN headquarters, the release said.
The chief of army staff held a meeting with Atul Khare, under-secretary- general of the Department of Operational Support, on Monday and thanked him for enlisting Biman Bangladesh Airlines as a carrier of peacekeepers.
General Atul Khare also thanked the Bangladesh government for Biman Bangladesh Airlines' role in ferrying peacekeepers successfully amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership on issues regarding peace, climate change, women empowerment and human rights, said the ISPR press release.
The deployment of more Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the peacekeeping missions, quick initiative for compensation for wounded and dead peacekeepers, payment of unsettled reimbursement of the Bangladesh Army, measures to vaccinate Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the replacement of equipment used at higher rates and sending a helicopter unit of the Bangladesh Army were among the issues discussed, the release added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for peace operations, at a meeting with Aziz, appreciated the professionalism, discipline, dedication and bravery of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in different UN peacekeeping missions, according to the release.
Lacroix thanked the government of Bangladesh for its significant contributions in establishing world peace.
Lacroix praised the women peacekeepers from Bangladesh and hope that number of female peacekeepers will increase in the future. He also assured his cooperation of deploying more Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the release added.
Aziz assured Lacroix that Bangladesh is capable of deploying 15 contingents, including four from the Bangladesh Army, in just 60 days under the United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System.
The army chief said he hopes the number of Bangladeshi peacekeepers increase in the Central African region and in Sudan.
Aziz also met Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey, military adviser for UN peacekeeping operations, on the same day. Bangladesh's permanent representative to the UN Rabab Fatima received him at the UN headquarters.
General Aziz left the country on January 29 for the US and will return today, the press release added.
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