<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to end the arms race and instead spend the money for eradication&nbsp; of poverty and easing the adverse impacts of climate change.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The money for arms development and competition can be provided to the climate fund for the countries that are now going to be affected by climate changes in order to protect mankind from climate adversities. And the money can also be used on food for the poor children, as well as education and health of the underprivileged children,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister was addressing a programme arranged in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2024 and pay tributes to the fallen peacekeepers and those who had been wounded while peacekeeping duty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pointing to the countries which are spending a huge amount of money on arms development and arms race, she said, “We talk about peace. But why do you engage in conflicts?”&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Had this money spent for arms race been spent on foods for hungry people, education and medical treatment for the poor, then peace would have beeb established in this world. The living standard of people would have improved and the people could live in a decent manner, said Hasina.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Conflicts and wars in different parts of the world are disrupting world peace today,” she said citing Russia-Ukraine war, Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the forcibly displaced Rohingya people of Myanmar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The wars and conflicts have created a dire situation for the mankind, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“As the arms race continues to rise, the lives of people become more and more miserable,” she said, adding that the women and children are suffering the most and young people are losing their lives due to conflicts and wars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier stressed the need for solving problems and disputes through negotiation.&nbsp; “We don't want war, we want peace. We want to solve everything through dialogue. A large number of people in the world still live below the poverty line,” she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said Bangladesh has become a role model for global peace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Bangladesh is a dependable name in the efforts of protecting peace and safety alongside establishing global peace. We are acknowledged by all as we have become a role model on the global stage," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said currently 6,092 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, including 493 women, are deployed in 13 UN missions around the world and they have already successfully completed 63 missions in different countries in the world.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh, the PM said, is now observing 36 years since it started contributing troops to the UN peacekeeping missions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said Bangladesh is currently the largest troops-contributing country to UN peacekeeping. "They (Bangladeshi peacekeepers) have been working with fame and glory," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said leaders of the countries where Bangladeshi peacekeepers are now working have highly praised them. "I feel really proud of the compliments," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said Bangladesh is actively participating in other international forums alongside the UN peacekeeping missions to establish global peace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Overall, our professionalism, efficiency and commitment in establishing global peace have set an example for others," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>