UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo’s Message on International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective tools to respond to difficult global peace and security challenges. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers has been observed on 29 May since 2002 after the General Assembly adopted resolution 57/129 (2002). The day commemorates the contributions of all the brave and professional men and women who have served and serve in UN peacekeeping operations, and honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the service of peace.

The theme of the day  “The Road to Lasting Peace: Leveraging the Power of Youth for Lasting Peace and Security" is a reminder of the importance of the UN Youth, Peace and Security agenda (YPS). UN peacekeepers under 30 are often better able to connect with youth and to serve as role models for young people in the local populations. This contributes to encouraging communities to engage young people and achieve more sustainable peace. 

Bangladesh began its noble journey with UN peacekeeping in 1988 with United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIMOG) by sending 15 military observers. In 1989 Bangladesh sent its first military contingent to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia to monitor the peace process and elections.

As top troop and police contributing country, Bangladesh has rapidly earned a strong reputation for bravery, competency, dependability, leadership and professionalism over the last 33 years. A total of 1,75,316 Bangladesh peacekeepers have served in peacekeeping and currently 6,874 peacekeepers are deployed in ten missions including some difficult stations such as Mali, South Sudan, Central African Republic and DR Congo.

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was formally initiated by the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Bangladesh showing the way to SG’s Agenda for Peacekeeping including the call to increase the number of female peacekeepers. A total of 1974 female peacekeepers served till today while currently deployed 319.

Today we pay tribute to 4,065 fallen heroes from different contributing countries in all UN peace operations since 1948.  Among the fallen heroes, 159 are Bangladeshis. In the line of duty, 240 peacekeepers from Bangladesh sustained injuries as well.

In the past one year, Bangladesh lost eight dedicated peacekeepers. Eleven were injured in services for the cause of a more peaceful future.

The fallen peacekeepers are:

Sergeant Mohammad Ibrahim; Lance Corporal Md Saiful Islam; Lance Corporal Md Abdullah Al Mamun; Lance Corporal Md Robiul Molla;  Senior Warrant Officer Abdul Halim; Warrant Officer Md Saiful Imam Bhuiyan; Sergeant Md Ziaur Rahman; Sergeant Md Mobarak Hossain.

The UN will always remember their sacrifice in the service of peace and pays the highest respect to these heroes and sends its deepest condolences to their grief-stricken families. The contributions of these eight deceased peacekeepers will be remembered by the global community. The injured peacekeepers have also demonstrated their commitment to the global peace.