Addis Ababa, November 21, 2025 (FMC) — The Bangladesh Embassy celebrated the country’s Armed Forces Day in Addis Ababa in the presence of military attachés from various countries, members of the diplomatic community, and invited guests from the community.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Ethiopia, Air Vice Marshal Sitwat Nayeem, paid homage to the martyrs of his country, including members of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Bangladesh’s freedom.
He noted that November 21 is a significant milestone in the history of Bangladesh’s liberation war, marking the events that paved the way for the nation’s victory on December 16, 1971.
The Ambassador highlighted that through 54 years of glory and unwavering pursuit of excellence, the Armed Forces of Bangladesh have undergone an outstanding transformation in recent years.
He stated that Bangladesh is proud to participate in UN Peacekeeping Operations and has remained among the top two contributing countries for more than a decade, reflecting the nation’s commitment to global peace and security.
He expressed gratitude to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for its sincere support in strengthening bilateral diplomatic relations and in deepening cooperation between the two armed forces.
“I am confident that the existing relationship between the two friendly militaries will continue to enhance toward achieving common interests and mutual benefits,” the Ambassador emphasized.
Paying respect and tribute to the martyrs and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country, Military Attaché of the Bangladesh Embassy Brigadier General G M Shariful Islam said, “Bangladesh was the leading troop-contributing country in UN Peacekeeping Operations for many years.
At present, members of our Armed Forces are deployed in nine countries around the world as peacekeepers under the blue helmet. As per the latest statistics released by the United Nations, as of 30 September 2025, Bangladesh was the third-largest troop-contributing country in the world, with a total of 5,649 peacekeepers including 479 female members and 217 police forces.”
“Till today, Bangladesh has successfully completed 54 peacekeeping operations in around 40 countries, where over 150,000 peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Armed Forces have taken part in active service to regain or establish peace. So far, 141 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of global peace and stability,” he added.
Brigadier General G M Shariful Islam underscored the longstanding historical bond between Ethiopia and Bangladesh, noting that the relationship continues to grow stronger each day. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to advancing bilateral relations to the next level.