Jumbangla Desk: Chief of Army Staff General Waqar-uz-Zaman returned to the country today (October 25) after visiting the United States and Canada.

During the visit, he met with important persons related to the peacekeeping mission at the United Nations Headquarters, high military and civilian officials including the US Army Chief, and high military and civilian officials and individuals of Canada.

On October 17, the Chief of Army Staff at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Under Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, Under Secretary General of the Department of Operational Support Mr. Ms. Atul Khare, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights. Ilze Brands Kehris, Under Secretary General, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs met with Assistant Secretary General for Middle East, Asia and Pacific Affairs Mohammed Khaled Khiari and Director of Office for Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership General Jai Menon in a bilateral meeting. .

During the meeting with the army chief, they highly praised the peace keeping activities of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers, especially the members of the armed forces.

In all these meetings, the army chief emphasized on increasing the participation of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping missions and increasing the representation of Bangladesh at the policy-making/force command level.

Also, the army chief informed everyone that army personnel should not be selected for peacekeeping missions if they are found to have committed human rights violations while deployed in RAB forces.

Also, he shed light on the ongoing activities of the Bangladesh Army as per the directions of the interim government in the current situation of Bangladesh.

The army chief highlighted the many positive aspects taken by the Bangladesh government and the army for the development of socio-economic and peace order in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He also apprised them about the operation of hospitals and clinics by the Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingents engaged in various peacekeeping missions to ensure healthcare for the local people.

Among the countries participating in the mission, exchange of peacekeeping training, enhancement of operational capabilities and other issues related to the mission were discussed with importance.

The army chief reiterated the strong role and support of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in maintaining world peace to the senior UN officials.

Also, the Chief of Army Staff visited the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in New York and paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative.

On October 22, the army chief participated in a courtesy meeting and discussion with the US Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy A. George, at the Pentagon in Washington DC.

During the meeting, they discussed issues related to the interests of the armies of the two countries, especially UN peacekeeping missions, training assistance, development of bilateral relations and mutual trust, mutual cooperation in regional security, post-disaster humanitarian assistance, joint training.

At that time, the foreign policy adviser of the US army chief was present.

Chief of Army Staff, Assistant Military Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Courtesy of Ely Ratner.

During this time, strengthening the relationship between the Indo-Pacific countries and the Bangladesh Army and increasing mutual cooperation and future plans were discussed.

Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for South Asia Ms Lindsey W. Ford, along with senior military and civilian officials on South Asia from the National Security Council, were also present during the meeting.

In addition, he is the assistant secretary of the US State Department Mr. Courtesy of Donald Lu.

During the meeting, the army chief briefed about the overall security situation in the country, and various activities of the army in support of the government.

The meeting was attended by other senior officials of the State Department.

During his visit to Canada, the Chief of Army Staff paid a courtesy call on Vice Chief of Canadian Defense Staff Lieutenant General Stephen R Kelsey. During the meeting, he talked about facilitating visa processing for Bangladeshi students, serving and retired military personnel. He mentioned strengthening cooperation in the field of defense especially the exchange of trainees between military training institutes.

Also, Honorable Member of Parliament Salma Zahid, Member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of the Canadian Parliament met the Army Chief. During the meeting, they discussed various issues related to the mutual interests of the two countries. The army chief emphasized on facilitation of visa process especially for students and serving/retired military officers, signing of MOU with Bangladesh universities for educational exchange, cooperation in health sector by sending attendants along with agriculture and infrastructure development. Also, Canadian High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh HE Ajit Singh and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Nahida Sobhan paid a courtesy call on the Army Chief.

It may be noted that the Chief of Army Staff visited the United States and Canada on an official visit on October 15, 2024.