Today, May 29, marks the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, dedicated to the thousands of military and police personnel and civilians who risk their lives every day to help countries ravaged by conflict find their way back towards lasting peace.
In a world that has become increasingly connected, we have also seen increasing points of conflict, both within and amongst nations, which the more than 110,000 active personnel strive towards resolving in order to create conditions which will bring much-needed stability to regions.
The roles they play in this regard are diverse and multifaceted, highlighting the importance of the contributions they make to world peace, but it also makes their jobs more dangerous, finding themselves always at the heart of conflict. The pandemic has only made things worse.
This reality is reflected in the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since the UN Peacekeeping was established -- last year alone, 130 of them were killed, of whom eight were from Bangladesh.
We also take this opportunity to mourn those who have fallen in the line of duty, and to honour the eight Bangladeshis whose dedication and sacrifice have left us with immense sorrow, but also unmatched pride.
Bangladesh’s contributions to the UN Peacekeeping efforts continues to be one of the largest in the world, and their sacrifice and dedication make them role models for the coming generations of Bangladeshis who will take us into the future, an aspect highlighted in this year’s theme for the day: “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of the youth for peace and security.”
Indeed, it is in the hands of the youth, more than anyone else, to build a better a future, and we as a nation need to ensure that young men and women are provided with the opportunity and resources to do so.
