A team of Bangladesh police Monday reached in Mali to join the UN peacekeeping mission by a chartered aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, reports UNB.
The police contingent left Dhaka to join the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the police headquarters.
The 70-member strong contingent of Bangladesh Formed Police Unit (BANFPU)-1 led by commander Hasan Md Shawkat Ali and 70 members of BANFPU-2 led by deputy commander Md Rahat Gawhari left for the UN peacekeeping mission.
Apart from the stipulated forces working with different peacekeeping missions under the UN and the Bangladesh Formed Police Unit 2 (BANFPU-2, Rotation) team will work there, the statement said.
Deputy inspector general of police Md Haider Ali Khan and officers of UN desk gave them farewell at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, it added.
Bangladesh police earned the trust and respect from associating peacekeepers of the UN with showing competence and professionalism. Police also introduced French language course for police personnel so that police can share their working atmosphere with the UN officers as well as other peacekeepers easily.
According to the Centre for Research Information (CRI), Bangladesh stepped into the family of “Blue Helmet” through participation in UNIIMOG (Iraq-Iran) in 1988 with 15 military observers from Bangladesh Army.
Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force joined the UN Peacekeeping Operation (UNPKO) in 1993, while Bangladesh Police joined in 1989.
The CRI said the Awami League government is providing more facilities, equipment to ensure provisions of police and army to further strengthening the peacekeeping role in the world.
It said that Bangladesh police is one of the top contributing countries of police with remarkable commitments in the UN peacekeeping. Bangladesh is also the top contributor of female police officers to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
