Foreign Currency Revenue From UN Peacekeeping Falls to Tk 862 Crore

Bangladesh earned approximately Tk 862 crore in foreign currency from its participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations during the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman disclosed the figure in parliament in response to a question from Chattogram-13 Member of Parliament Sarwar Jamal Nizam.

The latest revenue figures outline a sharp reduction in earnings compared to previous consecutive fiscal periods, signaling a downward financial trajectory for state revenue derived from international deployments.

Dual Revenue Channels

According to information presented in parliament, Bangladesh mainly earns foreign currency from UN peacekeeping operations through two distinct channels.

One part comes from various facilities and allowances provided by the United Nations to peacekeepers, which the members concerned receive directly.

In addition, rent received for Bangladeshi vehicles and other equipment used in peacekeeping missions is deposited directly into the government treasury.

The foreign minister explained that this dual mechanism allows both individual peacekeepers and the national exchequer to benefit financially from multilateral operational commitments.

Consecutive Financial Declines

Financial records disclosed in parliament highlight a significant multi-year contraction in foreign exchange inflows generated by blue helmet deployments.

• In FY 2021-22, foreign currency earnings from peacekeeping reached Tk 1,833 crore 83 lakh 96 thousand 292.

• In FY 2022-23, total peacekeeping earnings declined to Tk 1,266 crore 53 lakh 71 thousand 100.

• In FY 2023-24, total earnings dropped further to approximately Tk 862 crore.

This decline represents a reduction of more than 50 percent in foreign currency earnings over a two-year period, reflecting broader structural shifts in global peacekeeping deployments and mission requirements.

Deployment Statistics Across Forces

Official personnel records as of July 31, 2023, provide a detailed breakdown of Bangladeshi security personnel serving in various active United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.

The Bangladesh Army maintained the largest contingent, with 3,557 members deployed across multiple global operations.

Among the deployed army personnel, 261 were women peacekeepers serving in diverse operational and support roles.

Additional deployments included 305 members from the Bangladesh Navy, 268 members from the Bangladesh Air Force, and 11 members from the Bangladesh Police.

Broader Diplomatic Engagement

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman emphasized that Bangladesh's active participation in international peacekeeping operations aligns with its expanding global diplomatic presence.

He noted that Bangladesh's growing economic importance, geo-strategic location, and active role in multilateral forums have strengthened bilateral relations and diplomatic cooperation with international partners.

At present, 51 countries maintain embassies or diplomatic representations in Bangladesh, alongside numerous international and multilateral organizations operating out of Dhaka.