Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged the United Nations to recruit more Bangladeshi women for peacekeeping missions, reaffirming Bangladesh's steadfast commitment to international peace and security.
He made the call during a meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka.
"One thing that I encourage is the participation of more Bangladeshi women in peacekeeping missions," said Professor Yunus, as the two discussed a range of issues related to UN peacekeeping operations.
Bangladesh currently ranks among the top three troop and police contributing countries, with 5,677 personnel deployed across 10 of the 11 active UN missions worldwide.
In response, Lacroix emphasised the UN's ongoing commitment to increasing the role of women in peacekeeping, stating, "We don't want to confine women to specific roles. The UN will support their inclusion across all areas of peace operations."
The chief adviser reiterated Bangladesh's readiness to deploy additional troops and police as required.
He noted the country's pledge of five units at the Rapid Deployment Level under the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS).
He also advocated for greater Bangladeshi representation in peacekeeping leadership roles at both UN headquarters and in the field. The UN official expressed support for this request.
The chief adviser assured that all Bangladeshi peacekeepers undergo thorough UN vetting procedures, and welcomed deeper collaboration with the UN and international partners on training and accountability to enhance human rights compliance.
Lacroix informed the chief adviser that a Bangladeshi delegation, led by the foreign adviser, will participate in the upcoming UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin, scheduled for May 13–14 this year.
Turning to regional security, the chief adviser expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, including cross-border shelling, civilian casualties, and disruptions to life along the Naf River border.
He warned that continued instability in Myanmar could escalate further, posing serious regional security risks, and urged intensified international engagement to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
Referring to UN Secretary-General António Guterres's recent visit to Rohingya camps in southeast Bangladesh, Yunus said the visit had renewed hope among refugees for a safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
