'Can you give an example of a mission where we violated human rights?': Army chief

Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has dismissed allegations against several army officers, calling them baseless and driven by ulterior motives.

His comments came during a press briefing on Monday following the inauguration of the 12th Annual General Meeting and Workshop of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centers (AAPTC) at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT) in Rajendrapur, Gazipur.

Gen Shafiuddin criticised the publication of the report, suggesting it was issued with malicious intent. He asserted that the army would eventually disprove these allegations, referencing a similar incident in 2013 that also aimed to tarnish the military's reputation. "We will be able to give a proper answer to all these conspiracies with our professionalism and above all our responsibility in the UN arena, In Sha Allah," he stated.

During his address at the AAPTC event, the Army chief emphasised the significance of hosting the meeting in Bangladesh for the first time. He noted it as a recognition of the country's contributions to global peacekeeping efforts. Highlighting Bangladesh's leadership in both diplomatic and military domains, he mentioned the peace-centric development model presented by the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly in 2023, stressing its relevance in the current global security context.

The Army chief lauded the exemplary professionalism and success of the Bangladesh Armed Forces in UN peacekeeping missions and praised BIPSOT's role in providing high-quality training for peacekeepers. He expressed optimism that the four-day conference would yield fruitful discussions and decisions, encouraging greater involvement of Asia-Pacific countries in global peace efforts.

"Not only the Bangladesh Army, our armed forces have performed duties in many missions around the world, in 43 missions. More than 6,000 peacekeepers are still on duty. Can you give an example of a mission where we violated human rights or our discipline deteriorated? In many regions of the world; Not only in Africa, but outside Africa, we have also served in Asia and Europe. Have you ever been accused of this human rights violation?" he asked.

The AAPTC serves as a crucial platform for policymakers, researchers, peacekeepers, trainers, and other stakeholders involved in peacekeeping operations. The organization includes 24 member states and 2 observer countries. At the previous annual conference in 2023, Major General M. Nazim Parvez, Commandant of BIPSOT, was appointed President of AAPTC for one year.

The event saw the participation of senior UN officials, ambassadors, UN Resident Representatives, defense and military attaches, senior military and civilian officials, and approximately 50 foreign representatives from AAPTC member countries. Organizers underscored the importance of the meeting in the context of an increasingly complex global security environment influenced by technological advancements and asymmetric threats.

The main objectives of this year's AAPTC meeting were to assess the evolving security landscape and outline future training frameworks to address emerging challenges. To date, 168 Bangladeshi army officers have been martyred in UN peacekeeping missions across 19 countries.