‘Can you give an example of a mission where we violated human rights?’: Army Chief

In a pointed response to recent allegations, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Bangladesh Army, firmly denied any instances of human rights violations committed by Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

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 Operation Training Centers (AAPTC) at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in Rajendrapur, Gazipur.

“Bangladesh Army has served in 43 missions worldwide, with over 6,000 peacekeepers currently deployed. Can anyone provide a single example of us violating human rights or failing in discipline during these missions?” The army chief asked, addressing the media.

General Shafiuddin’s remarks were prompted by a recent documentary by German media outlet DW, which suggested that Bangladeshi troops in peacekeeping missions had been involved in human rights abuses.

“Someone tries to make a case by reporting that an individual violated human rights while working for a particular organization. This is hearsay. If it indeed happened, were we informed?” The army chief questioned the validity of the allegations.

He further emphasised that the Bangladesh army’s responsibilities extend beyond Africa to Asia and Europe, maintaining a spotless record. “Have you ever heard of any human rights violations by us in these regions?" he asked.

Criticising the report as “biased and motivated,” General Shafiuddin stated, “The documentary expresses frustration that, despite repeated claims of human rights violations, the UN headquarters took no action. The UN would only act if they found us at fault. We strongly protest such one-sided and intentional reporting.”

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 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the UN General Assembly in 2023, stressing its relevance in the current global security context.

The AAPTC serves as a crucial platform for policymakers, researchers, peacekeepers, trainers, and other stakeholders involved in peacekeeping operations. The organisation includes 24 member states and two 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 attachés, senior military and civilian officials, and approximately 50 foreign representatives from AAPTC member countries.

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.