Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force

[2] the then former President of Bangladesh Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad initiated these deployments in 1988 for the first time with UNIIMOG with 15 military observers.

[3] Later as part of the UNIKOM force deployed to Kuwait following the Gulf War, the Bangladesh Army sent a mechanized infantry brigade of approximately 2,193 personnel.

[4] During the Rwandan Civil war, commander of UN forces in Rwanda General Roméo Dallaire alleged that Bangladeshi peacekeepers sabotaged their own vehicles in order to avoid going on patrols.

[2] This has included activities in Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, former Yugoslavia, Liberia, Haiti, Tajikistan, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire.

[17] After the contribution made in the Sierra Leone Civil War, the government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary official language in December 2002.

One argument is that Bangladesh is able to improve its international reputation and build "soft power," which enables the country to claim relevant positions for its diplomats in UN organizations.

Thus, Bangladesh wins both national pride and diplomatic benefits, including better working relations with neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan.

Another argument posits that Bangladesh is able to give its military professional experience abroad, and keep it busy and away from disruptive influence at home, which has been a permanent concern for the civilian government.

Finally, Bangladesh may gain financial and material benefits from deploying its forces under UN leadership because the UN pays higher salaries and relevant compensation.

Presently from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force are deployed in 11 ongoing UNPKOs in 5 countries where in UN peacekeepers total 6089.

The Air Force has its helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in MONUSCO (DR Congo) and MINUSTAH (Haiti).

The BANENGR-8, which is tasked to maintain and repair roads in Bong County, is making all out efforts to reestablish the communication network in the country.