Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on the United Nations to recruit more female peacekeepers from Bangladesh, reaffirming the country’s unwavering commitment to international peacekeeping and security operations. The call was made during a meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, held on Sunday, April 20, at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Dr. Yunus emphasized the importance of increasing the participation of Bangladeshi women in UN peacekeeping missions. He stated, "What I strongly encourage is greater participation of Bangladeshi women in peacekeeping missions." Discussions covered a range of issues related to peacekeeping efforts and future cooperation between Bangladesh and the UN.

Bangladesh is currently among the top three troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations. Presently, a total of 5,677 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are deployed in ten of the eleven active UN missions worldwide.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix acknowledged the importance of integrating more women into peacekeeping roles, noting that the United Nations follows a dedicated policy to increase female representation in its missions. He added that the UN does not intend to restrict women to specific roles but rather supports their inclusion across all aspects of peacekeeping operations.

Dr. Yunus reiterated Bangladesh’s willingness to deploy additional troops and police personnel if required. He specifically referred to five units pledged by Bangladesh under the Rapid Deployment Level of the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS).

The Chief Advisor also advocated for greater Bangladeshi leadership both at the UN headquarters and in field missions, a point that was positively received by the UN representative. Lacroix expressed support for such initiatives, indicating that the UN would assist in facilitating more leadership roles for Bangladeshis in peacekeeping operations.

Dr. Yunus assured that Bangladesh adheres strictly to the UN's verification processes for peacekeeper deployment. He also welcomed enhanced cooperation with the UN and other organizations in training and accountability, aiming to strengthen human rights standards across missions.

During the meeting, it was also conveyed that a Bangladeshi delegation led by the Foreign Affairs Advisor will participate in the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference to be held in Berlin, Germany, from May 13 to 14.

In addition to peacekeeping issues, Dr. Yunus raised concerns about the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, including incidents of cross-border shelling, civilian casualties, and disruptions to livelihoods near the Naf River. He warned that if the instability persists, it could further deteriorate and pose heightened security risks.

Dr. Yunus called for a coordinated international response to resolve the Rohingya crisis. He recalled the recent visit by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the Rohingya refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh, stating that the visit had renewed hope for the safe and dignified repatriation of the displaced population.