DHAKA, May 30, 2020 (BSS) – The UN Postal Administration, jointly with the
Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN in New York, has issued a set of
commemorative stamps as a tribute to the UN peacekeepers and marking the
birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The commemorative stamps were issued yesterday on the occasion of the
‘2020 International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers (Peacekeepers
Day)’, according to a message received here toady.
The commemorative stamp folio features Bangladesh’s flag, logo of MUJIB
100, the portrait of Bangabandhu and images of UN Peacekeeping services
around the world.
The images include the iconic posture of two Bangladesh female helicopter
pilots, first ever deployed in the UN history.
Responding to the occasion, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN
Ambassador Rabab Fatima said: “This is a humble, yet fitting tribute to
Bangabandhu’s visionary leadership and doctrine of peace which defines our
foreign policy; to our commitment to UN peacekeeping; as also to our valiant
and selfless peacekeepers.”
Release of the commemorative stamps is a part of the year-long activities
of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to observe the birth centenary of the
Father of the Nation.
This is also a recognition of Bangladesh’s glorious peacekeeping record
and contribution to UN Peacekeeping operations, which has its genesis in the
pronouncement of the Father of the Nation at the UN General Assembly in 1974,
“Peace is imperative for the survival of humanity’ and in his overarching
principle of ‘Friendship to all, malice towards none”.
To observe the day at the UNHQs in New York, UN Secretary-General Ant>nio
Guterres laid a wreath in honour of all fallen peacekeepers and paid tribute
to those who carry their service in the cause of peace.
The Secretary-General subsequently held a virtual ceremony to award Dag
Hammarskj”ld Medals posthumously to 83 peacekeepers who lost their lives in
2019.
Two Bangladesh peacekeepers, Constable Mohammad Omar Farouk and Sainik
Atiqul Islam, who made supreme sacrifice in line of duty in 2019, were also
given this posthumous award.
The PR of Bangladesh joined the PRs of other member states in the
commemorative ceremony which carried a message from her given on the day.
Bangladesh, a top troop and police contributing country, started its
journey with UN peacekeeping in 1988 having contributed 1,70,221 peacekeepers
in 42 peacekeeping missions so far.
Currently, 6,543 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are deployed in 9 peacekeeping
missions around the world.