UN missions: Those guilty of violating rights are not singled out

Any member of the armed forces with records of proven human rights abuses while on deputation in the Rapid Action Battalion will not be selected for UN peacekeeping missions, army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has said.

He made the comments during a meeting with key officials involved in UN peacekeeping at the world body’s headquarters in New York, according to a press release from the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).

The army chief returned to Bangladesh yesterday after visiting the United States and Canada.

During his trip, he met Donald Lu, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. He briefed Lu about the general security situation in Bangladesh and the various activities of the army with government support.

General Waker met with senior military and civilian officials from the US and Canada, the press release said.

On October 17, he held bilateral meetings at UN Headquarters with Jean Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary General of the Ministry of Peacekeeping Operations; Atul Khare, Undersecretary General of the Department of Operational Support; and Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights.

He also met with General Jai Menon, director of the Office for Peacekeeping Strategic Partnerships.

These meetings highlighted the crucial contributions of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, especially those from the armed forces, the ISPR said. The army chief stressed the importance of increasing Bangladesh’s participation in UN missions and improving representation at policy-making and command and control levels.

He reviewed the ongoing activities of the Bangladesh Army in accordance with the guidelines of the interim government, focusing on the current national situation.

The Army Chief underscored the government’s efforts to improve socio-economic conditions and peace in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. The discussions also covered critical topics such as peacekeeping training exchanges between participating countries and improving operational capabilities.

On October 22, he met with General Randy A George, Chief of Staff of the US Army, at the Pentagon. Their dialogue focused on mutual interests, including UN peacekeeping missions, training support, bilateral relations, regional security cooperation and post-disaster humanitarian assistance. The foreign policy advisor to the US military chief was also present at this meeting.

General Waker met with Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Security in the Indo-Pacific Region, where they explored strengthening ties between countries in the region and the Bangladesh military. Senior National Security Council officials, including Lindsey W. Ford, Special Assistant to the U.S. President, were also in attendance.

In Canada, the army chief discussed visa facilitation for Bangladeshi students and soldiers during a meeting with Lieutenant General Stephen Kelsey, Deputy Chief of Canada’s Defense Staff.

General Waker emphasized on strengthening defense cooperation, especially the exchange of trainees between military institutions.