Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has urged stronger United Nations support for deploying Bangladeshi peacekeepers and police personnel to UN missions.
According to the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York, Salahuddin made the appeal in separate meetings Monday with two UN under‑secretaries‑general.
In talks with Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Peace Operations, the minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s long‑standing commitment to peacekeeping and sought early verification of Rapid Deployment Level (RDL) status for Bangladeshi Formed Police Units (FPUs).
He also requested wider deployment of individual police officers, consideration of a Bangladesh FPU in current or future missions, and more leadership and professional posts for Bangladeshi officers at UN Headquarters and in the field.
Lacroix welcomed Bangladesh’s sustained role in peacekeeping and readiness to provide trained police personnel, praising its constructive diplomacy.
In a separate meeting with UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Operational Support Atul Khare, Home Minister Salahuddin discussed logistical and operational backing for Bangladesh’s planned specialised police deployments to Haiti.
Talks also covered contingent‑owned equipment, shipment arrangements and reimbursement issues.
The meeting was held at the UN Headquarters around 11am local time (11pm Bangladesh time).
Discussions covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including operational support for Bangladeshi military and police contingents deployed in UN peacekeeping missions, expediting financial reimbursement, environmental sustainability, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, and preparations for deploying Bangladesh’s specialised police contingent in Haiti.
At the outset, after exchanging greetings, the minister expressed sincere gratitude to the Department of Operational Support (DOS) for its continuous and effective assistance in facilitating reimbursement for Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
He also thanked DOS’s Environment Section for its special contribution to environmental protection through the installation of solar panels in peacekeeping missions.
Bangladesh was the first country in the world to install solar panels in UN missions. With its specialised expertise and capacity, the country is keen to work with the UN to expand renewable energy and solar panel installations more widely in mission areas, he added.
He further emphasised Bangladesh’s strong commitment to implementing the WPS agenda. He urged the UN to invest more in building eco‑friendly and women‑friendly infrastructure to ensure safe and supportive working environments for female peacekeepers.
The minister also announced a three‑member Bangladesh Police delegation will visit UN Headquarters from 15-17 July 2026 to participate in MOU discussions. He expressed hope for full cooperation from UN offices to include the proposed equipment and make the talks successful.
Khare praised the professionalism, courage, and discipline of Bangladeshi peacekeepers. He commended Bangladesh’s pioneering role in environmental protection and assured that the minister’s proposals, including the deployment of specialised police units in Haiti, would be given serious consideration. He also expressed determination to strengthen the UN’s partnership with Bangladesh.
