Dhaka, April 20 (UNB) – Reaffirming Bangladesh’s unwavering commitment to international peacekeeping and security efforts, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged the United Nations to hire more women peacekeepers from Bangladesh.
The Chief Adviser made the call when UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix met him at the State Guest House Jamuna.
“One thing that I encourage is the participation of more Bangladeshi women in peacekeeping missions,” said Dr Yunus during the meeting when issues with regard to UN peacekeeping were discussed elaborately.
The Chief Adviser expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to deploy additional troops and police when required, underscoring Bangladesh’s pledge of five units at the Rapid Deployment Level in the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS).
He also advocated for increased Bangladeshi representation in UN peacekeeping leadership at both headquarters and field levels. The UN official said they would also support Bangladesh in this regard.
Bangladesh consistently ranks among the top three troop/police-contributing countries (TPCCs), with 5,677 peacekeepers across 10 of the 11 active missions.
The UN Under-Secretary-General highlighted the UN policy of engaging more women in peacekeeping, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing after the meeting.
“We don’t want to confine women in specific roles,” he said, adding that the UN would support recruiting women in all aspects of peacekeeping.
The Chief Adviser affirmed that Bangladesh strictly complies with the UN vetting for peacekeepers and welcomed further collaboration with the UN and other bodies on training and accountability to strengthen human rights compliance.
Dr Yunus was told that a Bangladeshi delegation led by the Foreign Adviser would join the UN peacekeeping ministerial conference to be held in Berlin, Germany, from May 13 to 14 this year.
The Chief Adviser also expressed concern over ongoing conflict in Myanmar and cross-border firing incidents, civilian casualties, and livelihood disruptions near the Naf River, which acts as a border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He warned that continued instability could escalate, creating instability and security risks.
Dr Yunus sought concerted international engagement to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The Chief Adviser recalled the recent visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Rohingya camps in Southeast Bangladesh, saying that his visit gave Rohingyas renewed hope for a safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar.