Bangladesh and UN peacekeeping

United Nations peacekeeping is a major avenue through which 'small' states participate in and contribute to the maintenance of global peace and security. Bangladesh is no exception to this. Although a variety of domestic issues such as weak political structures and economic pressures continue to pose critical challenges to Bangladesh, they have not deterred the nation from fulfilling its global responsibilities. The strength of Bangladesh's commitment to peacekeeping can be seen in its readiness to make large, varied and sizeable troop commitments. However, Bangladesh's 'staying power' in terms of its ability to sustain the commitment in complex and dangerous mission areas has varied across UN peacekeeping operations. While Bangladesh continues to participate actively in UN peacekeeping with a view to enhancing global image, as part of its strategy for attracting greater economic assistance and foreign investment, it is confronted by critical challenges that significantly hamper its ability to perform in UN peace operations.

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Bangladesh is not only a small state but also a nation that is constantly bedevilled by its own internal problems relating to politics, economy and development. Due to its weak structural bases and limited capacities Bangladesh has mostly relied on the goodwill of the international community for foreign aid and economic assistance. Despite its severe domestic challenges the country has been making a positive impression on the world stage through its efforts in maintaining international peace and security. Nowhere has this been manifested more than in the field of UN peacekeeping operations.

Bangladesh is a relative newcomer to UN peacekeeping. Seventeen years after independence, following an internal arms struggle in 1988, Dhaka consented to deploy 31 unarmed military observers as part of the UN Iran--Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) to supervise and monitor the ceasefire between the two nations. Following this, in 1989, Bangladesh participated in the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia, to which it sent a team of 25 military observers.

Since its debut in the late 1980s, Bangladesh has been participating actively in UN peacekeeping operations (see Appendix). Bangladesh's frequency of participation in external UN missions is quite remarkable. Since 1988 the country has made sizeable troop commitments in a total of 31 UN peace missions worldwide. This is significant when compared with India, which has contributed to only slightly more missions (36) and has been participating in UN peace operations for more than 50 years. Bangladesh's frequency of participation is also greater than some other new peacekeepers from the Third World. Countries like Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe are some of these newcomers. However, their frequency of participation has been very low, participating in six, two and eight peace operations respectively since 1989. (1)

The central purpose of this article is twofold. First, it aims to demonstrate Bangladesh's strong commitment to UN peacekeeping by examining the size of its participation in UN peacekeeping and the nature of its troop contribution. To this end, it is argued that while Bangladesh readily makes large and sizeable troop commitments, the nation's ability to sustain the commitment in complex and dangerous mission areas has varied across UN peacekeeping operations. The second purpose is to examine the reasons for Bangladesh's active involvement in UN peace operations. The key point here is that while Bangladesh continues to participate actively in UN peacekeeping with a view to enhancing its global image, as part of its overall strategy of attracting greater economic assistance and foreign investment, it is confronted by critical challenges that significantly weaken its peacekeeping capacity.

The discussion begins with an examination of the features that define Bangladesh as a 'small' state. This is to provide the context for understanding Bangladesh's approach to peacekeeping as part of it overall foreign policy behaviour.

BANGLADESH AS A SMALL STATE

The term 'small state' is a relative concept and applies largely to the Third World. One cannot determine precisely how small a small state is, but two broad indicators have emerged for identifying and defining small states. (2) The first relates to 'small' in terms of the basic aggregate variables such as size of territory and population, GNP, productive capability, resources base, military budget and so on. The second indicator relates to military, economic, technological and industrial capacities. Some scholars focus on just one of these capacities, military capability and define small states as those that have a relatively low conventional military capability.

Bangladesh can be regarded as a small state based on a number of factors, which play a critical role in shaping the nation's foreign policy outlook. The size and geographical location of Bangladesh is at the top of the list. As one scholar writes, 'the tyranny of geography is the most important factor in the defence-vulnerability of small states'. (3) Indeed, Bangladesh is encircled by India, with which it shares three borders north, east and west. In fact, India, which occupies 72 per cent of the entire subcontinent, has been a major security concern for most South Asian states: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. India's regional ambitions have been a major concern for Bangladesh, given its geographical location and India's history of occupation and annexation of small territories in the sub-continent. India's occupation of Kashmir in 1947-49 and of Junagath and Hyderabad at the same time, its efforts in liberating Goa in 1961-62 and its annexation of Sikkim in 1975, generated growing fears that India might also 'swallow up' Bangladesh in the future. Moreover, Bangladesh's defence and military capacities are too small for it to protect itself from such threats. In 1999, Bangladesh's defence expenditure was only $619 million compared to India's $10.7 billion. (4) While India has been ranked sixteenth in terms of quantitative war capability worldwide, Bangladesh has been ranked sixty-second. While India emerges as the fourth largest army in the world, its military capacity has been further demonstrated by producing nuclear bombs. In 1998, India was the sixth state to explode a nuclear bomb, at Pokhran. Bangladesh's sense of insecurity stemming from its geographical location, size and military strength has played a significant role in shaping its foreign policy outlook.

Another concern for Bangladesh as a small state is its limited economic growth and development. Internally, Bangladesh is constantly troubled by severe domestic problems caused by under-development and economic insecurity. The country ranks very low in human resource development, measured by indicators such as literacy, health and nutrition. In terms of human development and per capita GNP, more than 46.5 per cent of Bangladesh's 130 million population live below the poverty line. While these concerns characterise Bangladesh's status as a small state, they also set the context in which its foreign policy operates.

It is argued that in international relations, small states are motivated by a 'preference for diplomacy and organisations'. (5) Bangladesh is no exception to this. It pursues a 'forward looking' (6) foreign policy with a view to increasing international support for its internal recovery by way of foreign aid and investment. This forward-looking approach partly includes the pursuit of multilateral diplomacy. At the global level, Bangladesh has taken a very active approach to multilateral diplomacy. One example is its links with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Bangladesh has been working on strengthening economic links and Islamic markets within the OIC. For example, at the Islamic Summit in 2000 held in Qatar, Bangladesh pledged to further co-operate and strengthen the Islamic common market on the basis of Islamic solidarity. (7) Bangladesh has jointly proposed increasing intra-trade in the Islamic Development Bank by three per cent in 1999-2001. At the 2000 Islamic Summit, Bangladesh also nominated itself as a candidate for the post of OIC Secretary-General. This shows the level and extent of Bangladesh's interest in increasing its presence in the Muslim world and also enhancing its image among its Islamic counterparts.

As part of this pattern of developing multilateral relations, Bangladesh has become increasingly involved in the affairs of the United Nations. Although Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, this involvement did not begin until it was formally admitted as a member state of the UN. The Soviet Union, which had supported India and provided military and economic support to Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war, was quick to endorse the creation of Bangladesh. Conversely, China, which had confrontations with India over border issues, supported Pakistan's reluctance to acknowledge the independence of Bangladesh. Being a permanent member of the Security Council, China opposed India's claims that Bangladesh is now a sovereign state and a separate state from Pakistan. (8) Moreover, the Chinese delegation opposed the Indian, Soviet and Yugoslavian demand for Bangladesh's admission to the United Nations. China vetoed Bangladesh's application for admission into the UN and tabled a draft resolution that the Security Council should defer the application until India adhered to and implemented the UN resolutions relating to the withdrawal of all Indian troops from Bangladesh and also the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war. It was this deadlock within the UN Security Council that delayed Bangladesh's entry into the UN.

In September 1974, Bangladesh became the 136th member state of the UN and it was this admission that marked the beginning of Bangladesh's active …

Formation of Bangladesh

Tension between East and West Pakistan existed from the outset because of their vast geographic, economic, and cultural differences. East Pakistan's Awami League, a political party founded by the Bengali nationalist Sheik Mujibur Rahman in 1949, sought independence from West Pakistan. Although 56% of the population resided in East Pakistan, the West held the lion's share of political and economic power. In 1970, East Pakistanis secured a majority of the seats in the national assembly. President Yahya Khan postponed the opening of the national assembly in an attempt to circumvent East Pakistan's demand for greater autonomy. As a consequence, East Pakistan seceded and the independent state of Bangladesh, or Bengali nation, was proclaimed on March 26, 1971. Civil war broke out, and with the help of Indian troops in the last few weeks of the war, East Pakistan defeated West Pakistan on Dec. 16, 1971. An estimated one million Bengalis were killed in the fighting or later slaughtered. Ten million more took refuge in India. In Feb. 1974, Pakistan agreed to recognize the independent state of Bangladesh.

Founding president Sheikh Mujibur was assassinated in 1975, as was the next president, Zia ur-Rahman. On March 24, 1982, Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad, army chief of staff, took control in a bloodless coup but was forced to resign on Dec. 6, 1990, amid violent protests and numerous allegations of corruption. A succession of prime ministers governed in the 1990s, including Khaleda Zia, wife of the assassinated president Zia ur-Rahman, and Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the daughter of Sheik Mujibur.

Bangladesh by Divisions & Districts

SEVEN DIVISIONS OF BANGLADESH
1. Dhaka
2. Chittagong
3. Khulna
4. Rajshahi
5. Sylhet
6. Barisal
7. Rahgpur

SIXTY FOUR DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH
(17 districts in Dhaka Division)
01. Dhaka (Capital)
02. Manikgonj
03. Narayanganj
04. Munshiganj
05. Narsingdi
06. Gazipur
07. Mymensingh
08. Tangail
09. Jamalpur
10. Sherpur
11. Kishoreganj
12. Netrokona
13. Shariatpur
14. Rajbari
15. Faridpur
16. Gopalganj
17. Madaripur
(11 districts in Chittagong Division)
18. Chittagong
19. Rangamati
20. Bandarban
21. Khagrachari
22. Cox's Bazar
23. Feni
24. Noakhali
25. Lakshmipur
26. Comilla
27. Brahmanbaria
28. Chandpur
(10 Districts in Khulna Division)
29. Khulna
30. Shatkhira
31. Bagerhat
32. Jessore
33. Narail
34. Magura
35. Jhenidah
36. Chuadanga
37. Kushtia
38. Meherpur
(8 Districts in Rajshahi Division)
39. Bogra
40. Jaipurhat
41. Naogaon
42. Natore
43. Nawabganj
44. Pabna
45. Rajshahi
46. Sirajganj
(4 Districts in Sylhet Division)
47. Sylhet
48. Maulvi Bazar
49. Habiganj
50. Sunamganj
(6 Districts in Barisal Division)
51. Barguna
52. Barisal
53. Bhola
54. Jhalokati
55. Pirojpur
56. Patuakhali
(8 Districts in Rangpur Division)
57. Dinajpur
58. Gaibandha
59. Kurigram
60. Lalmonirhat
61. Nilphamari
62. Panchagarh
63. Rangpur
64. Thakurgaon

Flag Meanings of Bangladesh

Flag Meanings of Bangladesh
The red circle represents the rising sun and the blood as well as the sacrifices that the Bangladesh people have made in order to gain independence. The green base color of the Bangladesh flag symbolizes the greenery of Bangladesh with its vitality and youthfulness.
Flag History of Bangladeshi:
The present day Bangladesh flag was adopted on Jan 17, 1972, after gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Interesting of Bangladeshi Flag Facts:
Many western writers have misinterpreted the Bangladesh flag's green base as symbolizing the color of Islam, which is essentially incorrect.

Geographical Status of Bangladesh

Location of Bangladesh: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E.
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 144,000 sq km.
land: 133,910 sq km.
water: 10,090 sq km.
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Iowa.
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km.
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm.
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin.
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm.
territorial sea: 12 nm.
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast.
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m.
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m.
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber.
Land use:
arable land: 61%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 36% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season.
Environment-current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation.
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Only a small portion of the boundary with India remains unlimited; discussions to demarcate the boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, and allocate divided villages remain stalled; skirmishes, illegal border trafficking, and violence along the border continue; Bangladesh has protested India's attempts to fence off high traffic sections of the porous boundary; Burmese attempts to construct a dam on the border stream in 2001 prompted an armed response halting construction; Burmese Muslim refugees migrate into Bangladesh straining meager resources.

Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

Peoples Republic of Bangladesh: Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South east Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar (Burma) to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. The capital city is Dhaka, also it is the hub of all cultural, political and religious affairs. Together with the Indian state of West Bengal, it makes up the ethnology-linguistic region of Bengal. The name Peoples Republic of Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal" in the official Bengali language. The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947, when the region became East Pakistan, part of the newly formed nation of Pakistan. However, it was separated from the western wing by 1,600 km (994 mile) of Indian territory. Due to political exclusion, ethnic and linguistic discrimination, and economic neglect by the politically-dominant West Pakistan, popular agitation grew against West Pakistan and led to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, which succeeded after Pakistan surrendered to an invasion by an Indian Brigade in Dhaka . After independence, the new state endured famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm and economic progress.
Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy, with an elected parliament called the Jatiyo Sangshad. It is the ninth most populous country and among the most densely populated countries in the world. A high poverty rate prevails, although the United Nations has acclaimed Peoples Republic of Bangladesh for achieving tremendous progress in human development. Geographically, the country straddles the fertile Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta and is subject to annual monsoon floods and cyclones.
The country is listed among the Next Eleven economies. It is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the D-8 and BIMSTEC, and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. However, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh continues to face a number of major challenges, including widespread political and bureaucratic corruption, economic competition relative to the world, serious overpopulation, widespread poverty, and an increasing danger of hydrologist shocks brought on by ecological vulnerability to climate change.

Background of the war

Month of August 1947, the British ruled the Indian subcontinent into two independent and separate independent state of India was born. The area consists of predominantly Muslim Pakistan and predominantly Hindu, and other Religion’s the region consists of India. Two thousand miles apart at the newly formed state of Pakistan consists of two provinces - East Pakistan (today Bangladesh) and West Pakistan. Geographical and cultural aspects of the mobilization of resources located in the interval between the two parts of the match was only a majority of the religions. The eastern part of the western part of the inception of the many ways to contain and prevent the birth of independent Bangladesh was East Pakistan until the long and 23 years of exploitation by the East Pakistan - the history of deprivation.
The growing discontent of the people of East Pakistan, and self-discipline to hang forever like the quiet night, the Pakistani military in East Pakistan on 25March night unleash a fierce Pakistani military forces, is country-wide Operation Searchlight, a Bengali killing mission, the Pakistani Army attacked through this awful start Bangladesh independence war was longing nine month.

Independent of Bangladesh

War Of Bangladesh were committed in 1971 against the West Pakistan, East Pakistan's armed struggle, in which Bangladesh as an independent country in the world debut of the chest. On 26 March 1971, Introduced in this war, when the Pakistani military forces on the night the unarmed people. 25 March on the dark night Pakistani military killed Hundreds of general citizens, students, teachers, intellectuals. 26th March Arrested majority leader of 1970th general elections and Bangladesh Awami league chif Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was most popular leader in Bangladesh or west Pakistan. Arrest prior first hour he announced that the independent of Bangladesh. But unfortunately this announcement not broadcasting any public or electric media. 27th March morning major Ziaur Rahman declared the Independent of Bangladesh on behalf of great leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Kalurghat radio station on Chittagong. Then start of liberation war. East Bengal Regiment, East Pakistan Rifles, East Pakistan, police, military forces and Bengali member countries are free to all customers in general makes muktibahini for liberation war. Muktibahini across the country continue to harass the Pakistani forces to fight guerrilla raider makes. During the Bangladesh Liberation War on India from the economic, military and diplomatic support to get it. Early December, when the only time it is born only when the situation is different with fund flows to India and Pakistan declared war against them. The direct involvement of India and Bangladesh war of independence. Attacked the attack in the Pakistani and Indian military forces have joined forces to muktibahini aggressive accelerate the decline. December 16th Pakistan army surrender by 93,000 thousand of Soldiers on resakors fild. Through the end of the war and the birth of independent Bangladesh.