Shawdesh desk:

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said maintaining peace in the world had become more difficult than in the past as evil forces were using advanced technology against it.

‘With the recent development and advancement of technology, new threats of evil forces are increasing,’ she said.

The prime minister was addressing a programme marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

She said that technology is giving people opportunities in all fields including socioeconomic development.

‘But we also see that the evil forces are also using technology creating confusion among the people and is taking away the peace of people’s lives,’ she said.

She said that peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions have to deal with complex multidimensional situation.

‘Hence the need to enrich peacekeeping missions with advanced technology has increased manifold,’ she stated.

Hasina mentioned that her government has always prepared Bangladeshi peacekeepers with the latest training to deal with complex situations in the world’s most challenging and dangerous regions.

‘We are ensuring the supply of clothing, other essential items, and modern military equipment compatible with the mission area’s environment, weather, and terrain,’ she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that the government incorporated added modern mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicles to the Bangladesh contingents and state-of-the-art technology for peacekeeper communications.

‘Incorporating modern technology and training are an ongoing process that we will continue in the future,’ she added.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis also spoke at the programme.

At the outset of the event, one minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for establishing peace.

A video documentary titled ‘Bangladesh in Global Peace’ was screened in the ceremony.

The PM handed over awards to the family members of five fallen peacekeepers. She also handed over awards to five injured peacekeepers.

She unveiled the International Peacekeeper Journal.