Those trying to undermine peacekeepers’ achievements are Bangladesh’s enemies: Shahriar

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Sunday said those who at home and abroad are trying to undermine Bangladesh peacekeepers’ achievements in the UN missions are enemies of the country.

“It is very unfortunate. They are our pride. Our peacekeepers are an example in the whole world. They are not Bangladesh’s friends but they are enemies who are trying to undermine this achievement and trying to make our efforts fail,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks when his comment was sought about the letters before the visit of United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and comments by two international human rights bodies at DCAB Talk at Foreign Service Academy.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) Rezaul Karim Lotus and its General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke.

Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Bangladesh first deployed uniformed personnel to serve with the Organization in 1988 when they were deployed to help monitor the armistice between Iran and Iraq.

So far, 167 peacekeepers from Bangladesh have lost their lives while serving in the UN peacekeeping operations, Shahriar said.

Over the past three decades, the contributions of these brave men and women in the countries in which they serve have been immense, the UN said.

The state minister said the people of Bangladesh should know those who provoked them - whether they are congressmen, senators, president, prime minister.

“We have no reason to react to those letters as these are their internal communications,” he said, adding that some people have stood against Bangladesh since the trial of war criminals.

As the national election is approaching nearer, Shahriar said, please be ensured that the number of such letters will only increase.

The state minister said he has two draft letters in his hands which BNP people are roaming around to reach out to European and American politicians and trying to convince them.

Whatever is written in such a letter is not the position of any state but it is an effort to create noise, he said, adding that “We don’t want to spend people’s hard-earned money into such efforts.”

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Under-Secretary- General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard are visiting Bangladesh and joined the preparatory meeting of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial.

They are discussing how they can increase the number of women in peacekeeping and ensure they access all roles within our missions.

Lacroix said it requires everyone’s commitment, including member states and partners.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh looks forward to exploring effective strategies to ensure that all peacekeepers, irrespective of gender, can thrive in a safe and supportive environment.

“Discrimination and sexual abuse have no place in our Peacekeeping Missions, and we must collectively strive to eradicate such occurrences,” he said.