Right now, peacekeeping is not only a deployment of personnel; it is about protecting civilians in which societies can recover from conflict.
By Moses Okorie
The Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Miah Kabir, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to building a peaceful, democratic and non-discriminatory society anchored on justice, human dignity and equality.
Kabir made the declaration on Tuesday while speaking as the Special Guest of Honor at the 2026 International Hybrid Conference organized by the Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Faculty of Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The conference, which brought together scholars and other stakeholders, focused on the theme: “Peace, Security and Human Condition: Navigating Conflict, Displacement, Gender Issues and Artificial Intelligence in a Fractured World.”
The envoy said Bangladesh’s commitment to peace and democracy had been demonstrated by the country’s recent mass uprising, which, according to him, reflected the people’s desire for a more inclusive and equitable society.
“We always aspire to establish a peaceful and anti-discriminatory democratic country and this has been reflected during our recent mass uprising,” he said.
Kabir noted that peace, justice and respect for human dignity remained central to Bangladesh’s national aspirations.
He explained that since attaining independence, Bangladesh had maintained a foreign policy focused on peaceful relations and constructive engagement with other nations.
The High Commissioner also highlighted Bangladesh’s contribution to international peacekeeping, describing the country as one of the major contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He stressed that modern peacekeeping should go beyond the deployment of military and security personnel, arguing that the protection of civilians and restoration of communities affected by conflict should remain key priorities.
“Right now, peacekeeping is not only a deployment of personnel; it is about protecting civilians in which societies can recover from conflict,” he said.
Kabir also drew attention to Bangladesh’s development strides, particularly in poverty reduction, healthcare, life expectancy, food security, education and access to basic amenities.
He said the country’s economic expansion, with an annual GDP of about half a trillion dollars, illustrated the importance of strong government institutions in achieving sustainable development.
According to him, Bangladesh’s experience demonstrates that efforts to achieve lasting peace and security must be accompanied by social and economic development.
On emerging technology, the envoy called for greater efforts to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is deployed in ways that benefit all sections of society.
He warned against allowing technological advancement to widen existing inequalities, stressing that AI should instead be used to promote greater participation and inclusion.
“We therefore need to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes an instrument of inclusion,” he said.
The conference provided a platform for academics, students, institutional leaders, media practitioners and other participants to examine some of the major challenges confronting societies in the modern world.
Discussions centered on conflict and insecurity, forced displacement, gender-related challenges and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence on peace, security and human development.