"Let them be a shinning example to the world of what Bangladesh and Bangladeshis are capable of. I applaud and thank them for bringing home the glory from the fields of peacekeeping and peace-building and sharing it with us," he told a function marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed and UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Renata Dessallien also spoke on the occasion. Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Naval Chief Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, Air Force Chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman and Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad were present at the function at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, advisers to the caretaker government, former president HM Ershad, former chief adviser Latifur Rahman, diplomats, officers and members of the armed forces, family members of the Bangladesh troops killed in UN peacekeeping oprations and senior civil and military officials were, among others, present.

Earlier, the chief adviser along with the army chief presented crests to the family members of 76 officers and personnel of Bangladesh troops who sacrificed their lives for the cause of establishing world peace while serving as UN peacekeepers.

Bangladesh joined the UN peacekeeping mission (Blue Helmet) in 1988 with 15 military observers. Presently, 9,683 peacekeepers from Bangladesh, the second-largest contributor, are working with 11 different peacekeeping missions, the function was informed.

The chief adviser said the Bangladeshi peacekeepers are bringing laurels to their country through their devoted service.

" They have earned great plaudits from the international community and have earned gratitude of millions in lands far from our shores."

They have helped restore peace in many war-torn parts of the globe and have ushered in an era of hope in societies which had only known despair, the CA stated.

"Our peacekeeping activities have also enormously contributed to our diplomatic relations. Countries in which our soldiers and policemen have operated have become linked to us. These linkages have found fruition in close bonds," he said.

"It is our hope that friendship that have been forged will be reflected in increasing economic and commercial ties and this will help development of those countries as well as of ourselves."

He said participation in peacekeeping has been a priority component of Bangladesh's foreign policy and has satisfied its objective of partnering with the UN in furthering the aspirations of the world body.

It has been demonstrated to the world that despite many and varied limitations of Bangladesh, it is a positive player in the international scene. "Indeed we pledge to remain so every possible way."

"Our patriotic armed forces have set values, norms, and standards wherever they have gone. These are evident in their role when today, in Bangladesh itself, they have stood rock solid in support of the caretaker government,” the head of the caretaker government told his audience.

The chief adviser noted that the professionalism that Bangladesh troops and policemen have shown in the peacekeeping operations has been widely acclaimed, and participation has also "sharpened and honed our own skill".

"This has further strengthened our readiness to defend our motherland, should the need arise," he said.

The chief advisor reiterated government commitment to modernise the armed forces. "They should be appropriately equipped. This will enable us to respond more effectively to the peacekeeping needs of the United Nations," he said.

He recalled the supreme sacrifices of the troops in UN peacekeeping missions and said, "Their deaths cannot, must not, go in vain."

Brig Gen Mahbub Haider Khan conducted a multimedia presentation titled "Bangladesh in UN Peace Support Operation", projecting operations and role of members of the armed forces and police in UN peacekeeping missions.

A video documentary on operation and performance of the Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers was also screened at the function.