Dhaka: UN Under-Secretary General for Field Support Atul Khare has applauded the outstanding contributions of Bangladesh in the field of peacekeeping.

He mentioned laudable professionalism and forthcoming attitude of Bangladesh peacekeepers and conveyed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her active role and personal interest in strengthening UN’s effort in peacekeeping.

Khare was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on “Peacekeeping Rapid Deployment” that began on Thursday in Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN, New York.

He also highlighted high standard of maintenance of equipment by the Bangladeshi peacekeepers, according to a press release received here on Friday from Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations.

Some 80 participants from the USA, France, China, Canada, Germany, Japan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, African Union (AU), European Union (EU), NATO and other UN organizations including Secretariat staff members and others participated in the workshop.

The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Strategic Force Generation Cell arranged the event to discuss and analyze key challenges facing the rapid deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation with a view to developing a guidance document and related actions for future deployments.

Choosing Bangladesh Permanent Mission as the venue for the event reflects UN’s confidence on our peacekeepers and above all the sincere commitment of the Government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the press release.  

The event was the follow up of Leaders’ Summit held in 2015, the event also co-hosted by Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is now one of the leading troop and police contributing countries with about 7,000 peacekeepers in 11 different missions.

Bangladesh is also one of the countries who have pledged for rapid deployment within 60 days of notification by the United Nations.