Bangladesh peacekeepers built roads, communities beyond blue helmets: UNGA president

United Nations General Assembly President Dr Khalilur Rahman said on Tuesday (22 September) that Bangladeshi peacekeepers have gone beyond their traditional role as 'blue helmets' by building roads and communities and helping war-torn nations move towards proper governance.

Recalling a recent interaction, Rahman quoted a representative from a war-torn nation praising Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their contributions.

"Your peacekeepers from Bangladesh were not just blue helmets. They built roads and communities. They fed children. They helped rebuild societies and put us on the road to proper governance," he said.

Rahman said decisive action by the UN Security Council demonstrates its strength and effectiveness.

He cited historical examples in which Council interventions helped liberate Kuwait, end the civil war in El Salvador, support Namibia's independence, rebuild Cambodia and stabilise conflict-affected countries through peacekeeping.

However, Rahman stressed that the existing UN setup remains deeply unbalanced after eight decades.

He pointed out that Africa, the largest regional group by number of member states and a primary focus of UN peacekeeping operations, remains significantly under-represented on the Council.

"Africa needs to be at the table, not on the menu. Africa cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for their rightful place on the Council," he declared.

Ending Africa's under-representation is no longer a matter for delay but a question of fairness, justice and, ultimately, the core credibility of the United Nations, he added.