Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned home today after an 11-day official visit to the USA and Canada, an Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) press release said here this evening.
 
During the visit, the army chief met UN high officials related to the peacekeeping missions at its headquarters as well as high-ranking military and civil officials of the USA and Canada, including the USA army chief.
 
On October 17, the army chief joined a bilateral meeting at UN headquarters in New York with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary General for Middle East, Asia, and Pacific Affairs Mohammed Khaled Khiari, and Director of Office for Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership General Jai Menon.
 
During the meeting, they highly praised the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, especially the armed forces members, in peacekeeping operations.
 
The army chief, in the meetings, emphasized increasing the participation of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN missions as well as Bangladesh's representation in the policy-making process.
 
The army chief informed the UN officials that no army personnel will be selected for peacekeeping missions if they are found to be involved in human rights violations during their service in RAB forces, read the release.
 
Mentioning many positive aspects of the interim government and army's initiatives for developing socio-economic conditions and ensuring law order situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Army chief highlighted the ongoing activities of the Bangladesh Army in line with directions of the incumbent government.
 
He also informed them about operating hospitals and clinics by Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingents engaged in various missions to ensure healthcare for the local people.

They also discussed exchanging peacekeeping training among the countries participating in the mission and other issues, including enhancing operational capabilities.
 
The Army Chief visited the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in New York and paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative.
 
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