24 June 2018, Dhaka: UN Under-Secretary-General, Department of Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix called on Foreign Minister A. H. Mahmood Ali, MP at the State Guest House Padma today. The UN Under-Secretary-General was accompanied by United Nations Military Adviser Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey and United Nations Police Adviser Luís Carrilho.

Foreign Minister welcomed the delegation to Bangladesh and thanked the Under-Secretary-General for undertaking the visit. Citing the constitutional obligation of Bangladesh and the foreign policy vision of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman towards contrbuting to the maintainance of peace and security all over the world, the Foreign Minsiter reiterated present government’s firm commitment to continue its participation in the UN peacekeeping as well as in other initiatives of the UN towards establlishing peace.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister particularly highlighted the successful participation of women peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping at various levels including deployment of a full women police unit Haiti. He reiterated Bangladesh Government’s commitment to increase particiation of women in UN peacekeeping. The Foreign Minister specially mentioned about the extra-ordinarey efforts of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in helping the communities in agriculture, education, and other socio-economic activities. He assured the Under-Secretary-General of Bangladesh’s support to the Secretary General’s reform agenda for UN peacekeeping operations.

The Under-Secretary-General thanked Bangladesh for its contrbutions to UN peacekeeping and lauded its role in supporting the efforts of the UN for political solutions in various parts of the world. He appreciated Bangladesh for remaining actively engaged in the policy-level negotiations and consultations in the UN. Recognizing Bangladesh’s invaluable support to the initiatives and activities of the UN in the field of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, he expressed hope that Bangaldesh would continue to stand beside the UN in fulfilling its Peacekeeping agenda.

The Under-Secretary-General is currently in Bangladesh on a 3-day official visit. He is expected to visit Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT) tomorrow.