Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh would remain engaged with the international community to maintain its lead contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, defeat terrorism and violent extremism at any cost, and inculcate a ‘Culture of Peace’ in every human mind.

‘We shall remain engaged with the international community,’ she said in a message, on behalf of the Government and people of Bangladesh, marking the International Day of Peace.

The Prime Minister said there is perhaps no better opportunity than now to commit to such a partnership as all move closer to adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - the universal blueprint that envisages creating a world free from fear and want, with embedded safeguards for ‘better standards of life in larger freedom’ for every human being.

‘In Bangladesh, we shall continue to make our contributions to realising that vision by relentlessly working towards building a peaceful, tolerant, pluralist and inclusive society and ensuring enhanced access to justice for all,’ she said.

The Prime Minister renewed Bangladesh’s pledge to support all international efforts towards building a just and peaceful world through upholding the values and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, according to Foreign Ministry here.

‘In doing so, we continue to draw inspiration from the defining words of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,’ she said.

‘The very struggle of Bangladesh symbolized the universal struggle for peace and justice. It was, therefore, only natural that Bangladesh, from its very inception, should stand firmly by the side of the oppressed people of the world.’

The Prime Minister said it is indeed disheartening to see that millions of innocent people continue to be victims of protracted conflicts in some parts of the world, where their quest for peace remains unanswered and their basic human dignity trampled.

‘There is indeed a pressing need for forging a new Partnership for Peace - Dignity for All, where the worth of human dignity would be upheld above all else and the pursuit of peace would remain a constant in international affairs,’ she added.