Bangladesh News Bangladesh agrees to co-deploy troops with Gambia

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh on Thursday in principal agreed with a proposal of Gambi to co-deploy troops of the two countries in the UN peacekeeping mission as Gambian foreign minister Mamadou Tangara paid a courtesy call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina, reports BSS.

The prime minister consented in principle at the meeting with the Gambian foreign affairs, international cooperation and Gambians abroad minister as he handed over a request letter regarding the proposal of Gambian president to her.

The Gambia has proposed for co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian forces in a suitable UN peacekeeping mission, PM's Speechwriter M Nazrul Islam briefed the newsmen after the meeting held at the premier's official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.

According to Nazrul Islam, the prime minister has asked all concerned to prepare Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to pursue the proposal of co-deployment of troops in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission upon UN approval.

She also apprised the meeting that Bangladesh is the highest troops contributing country in the UN peacekeeping missions.
The visiting Gambian minister has highly praised Bangladesh's contribution to maintain world peace and Bangladesh's massive development in agriculture sector.

In reply, the prime minister has proposed transferring Bangladeshi manpower and technology to Gambia to jointly cultivate in its vast land for mutual benefit.

She also said Bangladesh has become a food-sufficient country due to her government's timely measures that include arrangement of conducting research.

The prime minister said the research has helped Bangladesh become a self-reliant country in food production despite reduction of agriculture lands.

She, as well, mentioned her government’s policy not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated, saying Bangladesh people are very responsive to it.

The prime minister thanked the Gambian government to support Bangladesh in repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
She also said Bangladesh has given shelter to Rohingyas on humanitarian ground and tried its best to give them dignified life since sending them back to their nation.

The premier said her government has been trying to repatriate the Rohingyas.

Gambian defence minister Sering Modou Njieis, Bangladesh foreign senior secretary Masud Bin Momen, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, were present.

Bangladesh agrees to co-deploy troops with Gambia

Bangladesh on Thursday in principal agreed with a proposal of Gambi to co-deploy troops of the two countries in the UN peacekeeping mission

en.prothomalo.com

 

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh and The Gambia today signed "Joint Political Declaration" for co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian troops in UN peacekeeping mission subject to approval from the United Nations.

The declaration was signed by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and visiting Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara before a bilateral meeting at the state guest house Jamuna.

"We are happy that Gambia will join us in co-deployment of troops in some of the future UN peacekeeping missions. We will take the Gambian peacekeepers along with ours," Foreign Minister Momen told reporters after the signing ceremony.

He said signing the joint political declaration was part of South-South cooperation that the developing countries aspire to boost.

Currently, Bangladesh has about 7,000 UN peacekeepers, making it a major troops-sending country to the UN missions. So far, a total of 1.84 lakh Bangladeshi peacekeepers served in the UN missions.

The Gambia, in comparison, has a small share of UN peacekeepers, which is less than 100.

Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara said it was a matter of pleasure that the two countries signed a political declaration for co-deploying peacekeepers in the UN missions.

"This will be a triangular cooperation including the two countries and the UN. We want to learn from Bangladesh," he said.

The small West African country came to the limelight when The Gambia filed a genocide case against Myanmar with the International Court of Justice, less than two years after the largest Rohingya influx to Bangladesh from Myanmar.

Foreign Minister Momen said The Gambia has set an expel by standing beside the persecuted Rohingya and that the two countries want to continue to cooperate in multilateral forums as well as in boosting bilateral trade.

Asked about the Rohingya genocide case at the ICJ, the Gambian minister said all countries, media and activists should raise their voice for Rohingya justice.

He sought international support to continue the ICJ case and advance the sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya.

Bangladesh, The Gambia signs declaration for co-deployment of troops in UN mission

The joint political declaration was part of South-South cooperation that the developing countries aspire to boost

www.thedailystar.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh Army chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Sunday left Dhaka for the African country Gambia on a state visit at the invitation of the country.

His visit aims at testing capabilities and fixing the next course of actions on the co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian troops in the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions for the first time.

Earlier, a six-member high-level delegation led by Gambian foreign minister Mamadou Tangara made an official visit to Bangladesh in February 8-13 this year with a call for the co-deployment of the troops at the UN peacekeeping missions.

The delegation included defence minister Sheikh Omar Faye and chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Yankuba A Drammeh, among others.

Responding to the proposal, the army chief departed the country for Gambia to test their capabilities in-person there.

A tripartite meeting among the army chief, the Gambian government, and two representatives from the UN headquarters will be held in this regard.

General Shafiuddin will meet with Gambian president Adama Barrow, foreign and defence ministers, the chief of defence staff, high military officials, and representatives of civil society during his visit.

Different issues, including bilateral cooperation and training in peacekeeping activities, will be discussed between the countries.

The army chief is scheduled to return Bangladesh on June 16, wrapping up his state visit.

Army chief leaves Bangladesh for Gambia on state visit

Bangladesh Army chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on Sunday left Dhaka for the African country Gambia on a state visit at the invitation of the country...

www.newagebd.net

 

[Afif]

Good to know to African countries prefer BD troops and have trust in professionalism of our officers and soldiers.


For anyone interested-
Here is a list of current deployment of Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

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DR Congo	MONUSCO
Lebanon	UNIFIL
South Sudan	UNMISS
Western Sahara	MINURSO
Mali	MINUSMA
CAR	MINUSCA
Abyei	UNISFA
Yemen	UNMHA
Ethiopia	UNOAU
Khartoum,Sudan	UNITAMS
Libya	UNSMIL

 

[Isa Khan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1668026843419557889

 

[Isa Khan]

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has signed a memorandum of understanding to join a co-deployment with Bangladesh, according to Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Lt. General Yankuba A. Drammeh.

This development is the first of its kind since the formation of the United Nations.

It is also the first of its kind since the formation of the African Union and ECOWAS for the two countries to work as partners under one umbrella for the promotion and maintenance of global peace.

This development was unveiled on Tuesday as the Bangladeshi Army Chief General S.M. Shafiuddin Ahmed visited the Gambia Armed Forces’ Training School in Fajara Barracks in Bakau where he embarked on an inspection mission.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the activities, the Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. General Yankuba A. Drammeh, revealed that the purpose of the Bangladesh Army Chief General’s working visit to The Gambia was to make an assessment and make an informed decision to look at what the convergences are.

He said this came after the UN shared a proposal with the Gambia Armed Forces about the possibility of co-deploying with Bangladesh. He added that when this proposal was shared with them from their permanent missions at the United Nations, they in the Gambia Armed Forces received the message with delight and optimism.

“On that basis, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow was adequately briefed and he also consented to it, and as the commander in chief in line with the constitution, he has the prerogative to accept when and where the Gambia Armed Forces would be deployed through normal processes,” he said.

He noted that the Parliament would be informed as well.

“From that moment we started putting all the mechanisms to actualise this proposal and on that basis, last February, President Adama Barrow tasked a high-powered delegation led by the Foreign Affairs Minister to undertake what we called worldwide mission to Bangladesh to convey their special request,” CDS Drammeh told journalists.

“Bangladesh is the largest contributing country when it comes to the United Nations peace mission. They have over 8000 troops in the UN in all dimensions at the level of military, aviation and at the sea-level.”

He added that when the proposal was shared with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in principle, she accepted the proposal.

“From there, both sides have been in consultations with Bangladesh, with the UN serving as a mediator to put in place the mechanisms, procedures and programmes to see a joint deployment between Bangladesh and GAF,” he said.

CDS Drammeh thanked the government of Bangladesh for availing the Gambia Armed Forces a rare opportunity to co-deplore with “fine men and women” in uniform.

CDS confirms co-deployment pact with Bangladesh - The Point

This development is the first of its kind since the formation of the United Nations.

thepoint.gm

 

[Afif]

The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has signed a memorandum of understanding to join a co-deployment with Bangladesh, according to Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Lt. General Yankuba A. Drammeh.

This development is the first of its kind since the formation of the United Nations.

It is also the first of its kind since the formation of the African Union and ECOWAS for the two countries to work as partners under one umbrella for the promotion and maintenance of global peace.

So, this way if we can do-deploy troops with countries under (more or less) G2G deals, we should be able to gradually minimise UN involvement. (if we are sincere) Thus, curbing big powers (specially US) monopoly on our peacekeeping deployments, as well as increasing our soft power and diplomatic leverage in the African continent.

Which (I believe) will come in handy later, if we can leverage our security ties for favourable economic and trade conditions, as Africa is the next big market. Thus, our cheap but reliable medicines and electronics will have huge potentials. And in the later stage, we could benefit from vast natural minerals of the African continent.