Bangladesh is set to observe International Day for UN Peacekeepers tomorrow with a series of events honouring its peacekeepers' contributions to global peace and security.
The day's programmes will begin with a "Peacekeepers' Rally 2025" in the morning to commemorate fallen and serving peacekeepers.
Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury will inaugurate the rally as chief guest, , according to statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Later, at 11:00am, a special reception will be held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, honouring injured peacekeepers and highlighting Bangladesh's role in UN peacekeeping missions, said the ISPR statement.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed will attend the reception as the chief guest.
"Over the course of four decades of peacekeeping, Bangladeshi peacekeepers have successfully participated in 63 UN missions across 43 countries and regions around the world. At present, 5,818 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, including 444 women, are deployed in 10 UN missions and operations across different countries," according to ISPR.
Since the beginning of Bangladesh's participation, a total of 168 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have laid down their lives in the line of duty.
This year, two injured peacekeepers are being honoured in recognition of their service, read the ISPR release.
A range of dignitaries, including members of the advisory council, ambassadors, UN representatives, chiefs of the armed forces, the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, the inspector general of police, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and media personalities, will be present at the reception.
In a separate statement, Police Headquarters today emphasised the vital and proud role Bangladesh Police has played in UN peacekeeping missions since 1989, starting with its first deployment in Namibia. Since then, 21,815 police peacekeepers have served in 26 missions across 24 countries, with 24 police personnel sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.
Currently, 199 police personnel, including 71 women officers, are deployed in DR Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
Since women were first included in 2000, 1,927 female police peacekeepers have successfully served in various missions, contributing to Bangladesh's reputation for inclusive and effective policing on the international stage.
The PHQ statement noted that UN deployments have played a transformative role in reshaping the mindset of police personnel.
"Today's community-oriented policing approach in Bangladesh owes much to the knowledge and experience gained from UN peacekeeping operations," the statement read.
The ISPR has issued a traffic advisory requesting commuters to avoid the stretch from Urojahaj Chattar to Agargaon Circle via Rokeya Sarani between 8:30am and 1:15pm tomorrow to facilitate smooth movement during the reception for families of peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.