Keeping the peace

Bangladeshis have been steadily playing an important role as global citizens since 1988, when we first deployed troops to a UN Peacekeeping mission. As is wont to happen in armed conflict, some of them have had to sacrifice their lives for it while others succumbed to post-traumatic stress disorders. But we also benefit in other ways from the UN Peacekeeping missions. Those who get deployed have a lot to offer to our police and Special Forces at home in terms of the experiences and skills acquired through peacekeeping and working with foreign troops. With over 7,600 peacekeepers, right now we are second in the world, after Ethiopia, in terms of number of peacekeepers currently deployed. That puts us ahead of India, which has a population more than eight times the size of ours. So, in comparison, our contribution is no small feat. Also remarkable is the number of female peacekeepers we have sent, with our first all-female unit deployed in 2010. At the time, out of 41 contingents from different countries, Bangladeshi Deputy Inspector General Mili Biswas was the only female commander. This goes a long way in terms of upending gender stereotypes and creating positive examples for young girls in Bangladesh and around the world. Although there have been allegations in the past of sexual abuse by peacekeepers, our prime minister reassured us that such transgressions will not be tolerated and the perpetrators will be rooted out. The actions of a few, however, should not overshadow the men and women in uniform who have braved incredibly harsh conditions in conflict zones to serve in the cause of peace.