One of the major sources of national motivation of Bangladesh for Global Peace is the glorious Liberation War. In 1971, the nation experienced genocide, persecution, suffering, displacement, torture and horror of humanitarian crisis. That enables the people of Bangladesh to better understand the plight of a distressed population/nation.

 

Another major source of the inspiration is Constitutional Obligation. The vow for establishing peace and security that emanates from the principles enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh. The Preamble to the Constitution reads “We may prosper in freedom and may make our full contribution towards international peace and co-operation in keeping with the progressive aspirations of mankind”.

 

Besides, the national intent is clearly pronounced through the foreign policy of Bangladesh. There are four basic principles of foreign policy of Bangladesh. It also promotes international peace, security and solidarity. There are various significances of these principles, such as Bangladesh believes in ‘culture of cooperation’ over ‘culture of conflict’, peaceful settlement of disputes and peaceful changes in international arena.

 

Protection of civilians is the most important mandate of UN Peace Operations these days. Culturally, in the Bangladesh Armed Forces, Social Face is predominant over Warrior Face; Protecting People is predominant over Fighting Enemy. Therefore, Bangladesh considers UN mission as proving grounds for the Armed Forces as Protector of People. Peacekeepers of Bangladesh are also motivated as such.

 

Participation in UN Peace Operation greatly enhances the image of the country, which ultimately helps the overall progress of Bangladesh.

 

 

Photo: A Team of 15 Army Officers in 1988 (UNIIMOG)

 

The journey of Bangladeshi peacekeepers attiring the Blue Helmet began in 1988 by sending 15 observers to United Nations Iraq-Iran Military Observer Group mission (UNIIMOG). Bangladesh Police joined in the next year (1989). Subsequently, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force joined United Nations peacekeeping operations in 1993. Bangladesh Armed Forces has always been responding promptly to the United Nations’ call for strengthening world peace and stability by contributing her troops, including the police contingents for peacekeeping. Till date, Bangladesh has successfully completed 63 Peacekeeping missions/assignments in around 43 countries/locations where 1,78,743 peacekeepers from Bangladesh Armed Forces have taken part. Bangladesh is one of the leading troops contributing countries with a total of 5,619 peacekeepers currently deployed in 10 countries/locations. 

 

Current Deployment

Country/Location	Name of Mission/Assignment
Abyei	UNISFA
CAR	MINUSCA
Cyprus	UNFICYP
DR Congo	MONUSCO
Lebanon	UNIFIL
South Sudan	UNMISS
Western Sahara	MINURSO
Yemen	UNMHA
Libya	UNSMIL
USA (New York)	UNHQ

 

Completed Deployment

Country/Location	Name of Mission/Assignment
Afghanistan/Afghanistan-Pakistan	UNAMA/UNSMA/UNGOMAP
Angola	UNAVEM & UNAVEM III
Bosnia	UNMIBH
Burundi	BINUB
Cambodia	UNAMIC/ UNTAC/UNMLT
Congo	MONUC/MONUSCO
Croatia/East Slovenia	UNTAES
East Timor	UNAMET/UNTAET/UNMISET
Ethiopia / Eritrea	UNMEE
Georgia	UNOMIG
Haiti	UNMIH/ MNF/MINUSTAH
Iraq	UNGCI/UNMOVIC
Iran	UNIIMOG
Ivory Coast	MINUCI/ONUCI/UNOCI
Kosovo	UNMIK
Kuwait	UNIKOM
Liberia	UNOMIL/UNMIL
Macedonia	UNPREDEP
Mozambique	ONUMOZ
Namibia	UNTAG
Rwanda	UNAMIR
Sierra Leone	UNAMSIL/ UNIOSIL
Somalia	UNOSOM-I –II/AMISOM
Sudan	UNMIS
South Sudan	UNMISS
Tajikistan	UNMOT
Uganda / Rwanda	UNOMUR
Western Sahara	MINURSO
Yugoslavia (Former)	UNPROFOR / UNMOP
CAR & Chad	MINURCAT
Darfur	UNAMID
Lebanon	UNIFIL
West Africa	UNOWA
UNSOA (Nairobi)	UNSOA
Syria	UNSMIS
Mali	MINUSMA
CAR	MINUSCA
Somalia	UNSOM
Office of the African Union	UNOAU
Abyei	UNISFA
Cyprus	UNFICYP
Yemen	UNMHA
Sudan	UNITAMS
UNHQ	UNDPO