Question no 02: Examine the national achievements of Bangladesh by contributing peacekeeping operation across the world.
Course name: UNO and World Peace
Course code: 223
Student’s details:
Bayjid Mahmud Sagar
7th batch & 6th semester
Class roll: AF 103
CGPA 3.55
Peace and Conflict Studies,
University of Dhaka.

Introduction
Forty three years after independence, Bangladesh has been identified as one of the next 11 emerging economies. In this financial year alone, its economy is expected to grow by six percent. Not only in economies it has established as well reputed in many sector. Now Bangladesh people working in united peace with dignity.

Bangladesh is devoted and focused on the standards cherished in the UN Charter, the peaceful settlement of global debate. Bangladesh Forces have been joining in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) around the globe for over two decades.

At this time activities of Bangladeshi peacekeepers are apparent in all the troubled ranges of the world, beginning from Haiti to East Timor from Lebanon to DR Congo. They had been all over the place and are resolved to remain so in the days to come and gained the certifications of a ‘Role Model’ in worldwide.

About Peacekeeping
Generally Peacekeeping refers to the active maintenance of a truce between nations or communities, especially by an international military force.

Broadly refers to the deployment of national or, more commonly, multinational forces for the purpose of helping to control and resolve an actual or potential armed conflict between or within states.
Most peacekeeping operations are undertaken with the authorization of, and are often led by, the United Nations but regional organizations may also conduct peacekeeping operations, and in some cases single states have undertaken such operations as well. Peacekeeping forces are normally deployed with the consent of the parties to a conflict and in support of a ceasefire or other agreed upon peace measures. Peacekeeping forces are therefore usually unarmed or only lightly armed and use the minimum of force necessary and then only exceptionally.
Discussion Peacekeeping Operation
Peacekeeping operations are comprise not only to maintain peace and security, but also to facilitate the political process, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatant, support the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law.
Success is not guaranteed, because peacekeeping almost goes to the most physically and politically difficult environments. Peacekeeping operations are always highly dynamic and have evolved in the face of new challenges. * Three basic principles of peacekeeping Operation * Consent of the parties * Impartiality and * Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.

Bangladesh in peacekeeping mission
The Bangladesh Armed Forces and the Bangladesh Police have been actively involved in a number of United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSO) since its formation in the 1970s. Its first deployments came in 1988, when it participated in two operations - UNIIMOG in Iraq and UNTAG in Namibia.[1] The then soldier turned politician - President-elect of Bangladesh, Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad initiated these deployments in 1988 for the first time with UNIIMOG.
Later, as part of the UNIKOM force deployed to Kuwait following the Gulf War the Bangladesh Army sent a mechanized infantry brigade (approximately 2,193 personnel). Since then, the Bangladesh Army has been involved in up to thirty different UNPKO's covering as many as twenty-five countries.[1] This has included activities in Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, former Yugoslavia, Liberia, Haiti, Tajikistan, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia.
As of October 2014, Bangladesh contributed the highest number of total personnel to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, with 8,758 personnel attached to various UN peacekeeping forces worldwide.
Bangladeshi Peacekeepers Activities

The UN deploys peacekeeping forces to prevent or contain fighting, stabilize post conflict zones, help implement peace accords and assist democratic transitions. To achieve those goals, the UN outlines the following peacekeeping activities where Bangladeshi peacekeepers play a vital role- * Promotion of social and economic recovery and development. * Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-combatants; * Rule-of-law related activities; * Landmine removal and associated activities; * Human rights protection and promotion; * Electoral assistance and * Support for the restoration of state authority.
Driving force behind participating in UN Peacekeeping Mission
Bangladesh has participated in most UN missions. More than 120,000 members of the armed forces and the police have been involved.

There are three sets of factors for Bangladesh to support UN missions with troops: global responsibility, regional dynamics and Bangladesh’s national interests. Moreover, there are pull and push factors: * Pull factors: Bangladesh has been an active member of the UN since it became a member in 1974. After the Cold War ended, many parts of the world experienced horrors of strife and conflict that resembled the traumatic experiences of Bangladesh’s liberation war in 1971. In the 1990s and later, the UN was called on to prevent, manage and resolve many conflicts. Needing an ever increasing number of peacekeepers, the UN increasingly relied on Bangladesh as the country proved capable of contributing troops for maintaining peace and security. * Push factors: Bangladesh pursues a policy of active participation in global as well as regional peace processes. It is one of only few countries that have recognized the UN Charter in its national constitution. Bangladesh is thus committed to maintaining international peace and security by multilateral means.

There are more tangible motivating factors too, as Bangladesh benefits from participating in UN peacekeeping missions in diplomatic, financial and military ways: * In terms of diplomacy and foreign affairs, the performance of Bangladeshi peacekeepers has bolstered the country’s international reputation. Bangladesh gets favorable recognition and publicity. The country’s clout in international and multilateral settings has grown accordingly.

Relevant costs
Operating in conflict zones is dangerous of course. There is the risk of death and injury in action. Moreover, there are illnesses and accidents, including road mishaps. According to the government of Bangladesh, 112 peacekeepers made the supreme sacrifice for peace from 1989 to September 2013. The figures are: 91 from the army, four from the air force, one from the navy and 16 from the police. The figure for injuries was not available.
The performance of Bangladesh's contingents has been described as being of the highest order and the appointment of several senior Bangladesh military officers as the Commander of UN peacekeeping missions and Senior Military Liaison Officers, may be seen as further recognition of the Bangladesh Army's growing esteem in the peacekeeping community.[1] In 2008, the BBC in described the Bangladeshi UN Force as "the cream of UN peacekeepers"

The national achievements of Bangladesh peacekeeping mission

Though Bangladesh entered in UNPKO from the Second Generation of UN peacekeeping in 1988, it has proved to be an invaluable partner in UN’s commitment to global peace and security. It has already been highlighted in the statistics of past and present missions, Bangladesh had been a major contributor of troops in Africa since 1989 and is still providing. Bangladesh troops have gone through many critical situations in number of peacekeeping missions in Africa and elsewhere, where they have held the UN flag high and steadfast. We can recall many such instances in Somalia, DRC, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cambodia etc and it has brought about great achievements at national level. Some of these achievements are-

* Building the Logistics Capacity

Our contingent’s remains under wet lease programme in the Mission. We have to sustain our troops in the mission will all logistic less food, fuel and accommodation. To maintain several contingents with thousands of troops far away from home is a huge logistic challenge. Over the years, a system has been developed but needs further refinements to ensure smooth delivery of logistics support. This can be addressed by developing more flexible policies on procurement, regular turnover of major equipment and through establishment of Defense Wings in our embassies within the region.

* Enhancement of Bilateral Relation

The development pace of the countries coming out of conflicts is moving fast. In fact, UN through its multidimensional approach set the scene for the quick growth and development. Most of these countries have abundant and unexploited resources and they have huge potentials for growth. Bangladesh can avail the opportunity by utilizing her HR and other expertise. The immense goodwill established by our peacekeepers in the mission area is likely to accelerate the process. This, however be implemented through the development of bilateral relations with these countries to mutual political and economic benefits. To this effect, we need to raise more diplomatic missions in Africa particularly in the West Africa, Central Africa and broader Horn of Africa where we have our presence. Some of these embassies should also have Defense Wings to address the need of our troops stationed there. The areas of cooperation that our diplomatic missions can pursue may include following facts-

a. Agriculture and agro based industries,
b. Pharmaceuticals, Small Scale industries, Readymade Garments, etc.
c. Provide skilled and semi-skilled HR for the management of industries, agriculture and service sectors,
d. IT and Defense Training,
e. Cooperation and coordination on key issues in the international forum etc.

* Conceptualizing Soft Power
It is defined as “the ability to affect others to obtain preferred outcomes by the co-operative means of framing the agenda, persuasion and positive attraction.” As opposed to coercing or inducing through tangible gains or punishments, soft power aims to co-opt others by virtue of their values, culture and institutional practice of policies that bears higher moral authority.

* Widespread use of Bengali language

Most of the African nations where conflicts prevails, they are either Francophone or Anglo-Phone nations towing their colonial legacy. Of course, some nations in the North speak Arabic too. For successful peacekeeping operations, skill on local language plays an important role in effective communication. Our officer cadre’s skill in English is good, but lack tremendously the requisite skill in French and Arabic both in quality and quantity. Of course, the level of communication of our troops in all these languages falls far short of the requirement. To continue our lead role and to expand our presence in the command and leadership roles in African missions, we should vigorously pursue to gain skill in French and Arabic languages including English for our troops.

Others national achievements are-

* Develop confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements and electoral support

* strengthening the rule of low as well as economic and social development

* Build up demonstrable skill, responsibility, absence of prejudice, uprightness and others conscious mentality

* Build up positive attitudes towards the local community

* Develop the way of winning hearts and minds(soft power)

* Improves the country’s image to the international community

* Teaches us about human rights and how this can be used in zones of conflict etc.

* Achievement of the promotion of international peace and security

* This achievement allows Bangladesh to place its nationals in key positions in international organizations etc.
Conclusion

The excellent performance of Bangladeshi peacekeepers has not only earned the name and fame for the country but also facilitated huge experience and exposure for our forces. Every effort should be made by all concerned so that this hard earned reputation is upheld and focus more on qualitative representation and contribution to reap maximum benefits. This is truer in case of our presence in Africa, which is considered as a “Continent of the 21st Century” - a Land of Opportunity.