BGB members to go abroad on peacekeeping mission

The long-cherished dream of members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is finally coming true as they have got the opportunity to work in the "Operation Kuwait Punarghathan (OKP)" in Kuwait. Recently, three BGB members, who retired from the paramilitary force as drivers, were sent to Kuwait to work under the Kuwait armed forces, sources in the BGB and the home ministry said. While only retired members of the BGB are being sent to Kuwait, in future, in-service BGB personnel will also be sent on peacekeeping missions, said BGB sources.

The main task of the BGB men working in Kuwait would be to clear landmines and various explosives planted there by Iraqi forces during the 1991 Gulf War. As many as 6,000 members of the Bangladesh Military Contingent (BMC) are working under the Kuwait armed forces in OKP.

BGB additional director general (operation and training) Brig. Gen. Khandoker Farid Hassan told The Independent that eight more retired BGB men—six drivers and two cooks—would be sent to Kuwait soon. “They are currently working under the Bangladesh Military Contingent (BMC), operating under the Kuwait armed forces in the OKP project,” he said.

“Some retired military personnel are working in the OKP project. The BGB men are also working under the BMC,” he added.

Sources said the authorities concerned had sent the retired BGB men to work under the OKP to implement the Prime Minister’s assurance of sending BGB men as peacekeepers in different peacekeeping missions abroad. These BGB personnel are likely to get an opportunity to go to Kuwait under the OKP soon, they added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during

her ‘darbar’ (meeting) with the BGB men

in Peelkhana in 2015 and 2016, had assured them that she would try to send

them on peacekeeping missions abroad. At those meetings, BGB members had requested the Prime Minister to send them on different peacekeeping missions abroad like the members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the police.

Members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, fire civil defence and civilians are working on deputation under the BMC to detect and destroy landmines under the OKP in Kuwait for several years now. The Bangladeshi personnel are also successfully working under different ministries and departments of Kuwait, including the defence ministry, interior ministry of enforcement and law enforcement agencies.

Personnel of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces are also working in the Kuwait National Guard.

Sources in the Armed Forces Division said the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force personnel were currently deployed in 11 ongoing UNPKOs in five countries.

The Bangladesh Army began taking part in UN peacekeeping missions in 1988 with 15 observers in UNIMOG (Iraq-Iran). Since then, it is maintaining its dominance as a leading troop contributor to UN peacekeeping.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces have so far participated in 54 peacekeeping missions in 40 countries. A total of 144,645 members from the Bangladesh Armed Forces have participated in peacekeeping missions.

 

BGB members to go abroad on peacekeeping mission

The long-cherished dream of members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is finally coming true as they have got the opportunity to work in the Operation Kuwait Punarghathan (OKP) in Kuwait. Recently, three BGB members, who retired from the paramilitary force as drivers, were sent to Kuwait to work under the Kuwait armed forces, sources in the BGB and the home ministry said. While only retired members of the BGB are being sent to Kuwait, in future, in-service BGB personnel will also be sent on peacekeeping missions, said BGB sources. The main task of the BGB men working in Kuwait would be to clear landmines and various explosives planted there by Iraqi forces during the 1991 Gulf War. As many as 6,000 members of the Bangladesh Military Contingent (BMC) are working under the Kuwait armed forces in OKP. BGB additional director general (operation and training) Brig. Gen. Khandoker Farid Hassan told The Independent that eight more retired BGB mensix drivers and two cookswould be sent to Kuwait soon. They are currently working under the Bangladesh Military Contingent (BMC), operating under the Kuwait armed forces in the OKP project, he said. Some retired military personnel are working in the OKP project. The BGB men are also working under the BMC, he added. Sources said the authorities concerned had sent the retired BGB men to work under the OKP to implement the Prime Ministers assurance of sending BGB men as peacekeepers in different peacekeeping missions abroad. These BGB personnel are likely to get an opportunity to go to Kuwait under the OKP soon, they added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her darbar (meeting) with the BGB men in Peelkhana in 2015 and 2016, had assured them that she would try to send them on peacekeeping missions abroad. At those meetings, BGB members had requested the Prime Minister to send them on different peacekeeping missions abroad like the members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the police. Members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, fire civil defence and civilians are working on deputation under the BMC to detect and destroy landmines under the OKP in Kuwait for several years now. The Bangladeshi personnel are also successfully working under different ministries and departments of Kuwait, including the defence ministry, interior ministry of enforcement and law enforcement agencies. Personnel of Bangladeshs Armed Forces are also working in the Kuwait National Guard. Sources in the Armed Forces Division said the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force personnel were currently deployed in 11 ongoing UNPKOs in five countries. The Bangladesh Army began taking part in UN peacekeeping missions in 1988 with 15 observers in UNIMOG (Iraq-Iran). Since then, it is maintaining its dominance as a leading troop contributor to UN peacekeeping. The Bangladesh Armed Forces have so far participated in 54 peacekeeping missions in 40 countries. A total of 144,645 members from the Bangladesh Armed Forces have participated in peacekeeping missions.