DHAKA, June 25, 2023 (BSS) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today said those quarters who are indulged  in undermining Bangladeshi peacekeepers’ achievement are the enemy of Bangladesh.

“They are not friends of Bangladesh… whether they are congressman or senator, or president, prime minister or foreign minister of a country… they are our enemy,” he said while speaking at DCAB talk at Foreign Service Academy in the capital.    

The state minister said time has come for people of Bangladesh to identify those who provoked them to undermine the peacekeepers efforts as  Bangladesh has been marked as the highest number of troops sending country to the UN peacekeeping missions.     

“It is very unfortunate (to undermine Bangladeshi peacekeepers achievement) . They are our pride. Our peacekeepers are an example in the whole world,” he said noting that so far 167 peacekeepers from Bangladesh have lost their lives while serving in the UN peacekeeping operations.  

The state minister made the remarks when his comment was sought about the US congressman letters to President Biden requesting to ban Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions.         

“We have no reason to react to those letters as these are their internal communications,” he said, adding that some people have stood against Bangladesh since the trial of war criminals.

As the national election is approaching  , Shahriar said, please be ensured that the number of such letters will only increase.

The state minister said he has two draft letters in his hands which BNP people are roaming around to reach out to European and American politicians and trying to convince them.

Earlier the state minister was jointly called on by visiting United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Under-Secretary- General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard at state guest house Padma here.

The two under-secretaries-general are visiting Bangladesh and joined the preparatory meeting of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial.

During the meeting, Alam said that Bangladesh remains proud for its contributions to UN Peacekeeping Operations.

The Under-Secretaries-General apprised him about the current priorities and future initiatives of UN with regard to peacekeeping agenda. 

They also praised the long-standing and robust contribution of Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping Operations.