UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has appreciated and acknowledged Bangladesh’s role in the UN peacekeeping.

He was addressing a two-day “Preparatory Conference on Peacekeeping” in The Hague hosted jointly by the Netherlands and Rwanda, said the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Tuesday.

The UN Under Secretary General, recalling his visit to Bangladesh, appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the UN Peacekeeping as a major troops and police contributor.

Lacroix also appreciated the quality of professional trainings being conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations and Training (BIPSOT).

He wished to see more attention being provided in the affairs of safety of civilian population of the host country.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok, Dutch Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld and Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwanda to the Netherlands and Smail Cherugi, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security jointly inaugurated the conference.

About 70 countries including Bangladesh joined this Preparatory Conference on Peacekeeping where Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal led Bangladesh delegation comprising Brig Gen Md Nurul Anwar, Director General, Operations and Plan Directorate, Armed Forces Division and Dr K H Mahid Uddin, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Bangladesh.

Ambassador Belal reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the UN peacekeeping and relayed personal commitment of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute troops and police in response to UN call for strengthening world peace and stability.

Recalling Bangladesh Prime Minister’s role at the high level event on action for peacekeeping, Ambassador Belal urged the UN to consider recruiting more female forces and police in their contingent and assured Bangladesh’s readiness to provide such forces at the shortest possible time when requested.

Paying tribute to all those peacekeepers of the world including 145 from Bangladesh who have made the ultimate sacrifice, Ambassador Belal reassured the world about Bangladesh’s devotion for adequately training the forces and police before deployment.

Bangladesh also reiterated her “zero tolerance” for sexual exploitation and abuse as well as our awareness for reducing the environmental footprints of peacekeepers. UNB