Army chief responds to DW documentary on Bangladeshi peacekeepers

News Desk

General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has castigated the Deutsche Welle documentary that accused some Bangladesh Army peacekeepers of violating human rights at home and called for excluding the South Asian country from UN peace missions.

“The Bangladesh Army has never violated human rights. We strongly condemn the malicious DW documentary,” he said after a programme at Gazipur Cantonment on Monday (May 27).

“We’ll give a fitting reply to the conspiracies by continuing to work the way [peacekeepers from] Bangladesh have been fulfilling their duties, maintaining the highest level of patriotism and professionalism,” he said.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) also protested against the recent DW documentary titled “Torturers deployed as UN peacekeepers”, terming it “false and fallacious”.

It said the documentary presents a misleading portrayal of Bangladesh Army personnel in UN peacekeeping missions.

In a rejoinder, the ISPR said Bangladesh Army rigorously follows the UN’s stringent selection and vetting protocols to ensure that only the most qualified and thoroughly vetted individuals are deployed.

These measures underscore the Army’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct and professionalism in peacekeeping missions.

It noted that DW did not seek comments from the Bangladesh Army regarding the allegations presented in the documentary. This lack of balanced reporting raises concerns about the aim and objective of the documentary, said the rejoinder.

It is pretty clear that the documentary was focused on defaming a law enforcing agency in Bangladesh by showing irrelevant video footage. It was totally a biased media projection, which has largely compromised the credibility of the documentary. It has also raised questions about the motive behind it, the ISPR said.

It is crucial to recognise the significant contributions of Bangladesh to UN peacekeeping efforts.

Bangladeshi peacekeepers have earned a reputation for their dedication, professionalism, and humanitarian approach. A total of 131 Bangladesh Army personnel have made supreme sacrifice and 239 sustained injuries while serving under the UN flag, embodying the spirit of selflessness and commitment to global peace.

More so, the Bangladesh Army has a spotless record with no human rights violations while serving under the UN, a distinction shared by only a few countries.

Given these facts, it is crucial for media outlets to adhere to the principles of fair and balanced reporting, especially on issues as vital as international peacekeeping. Misrepresentation and insufficient diligence can lead to eroding the credibility and effectiveness of peacekeeping forces globally, added the rejoinder.

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