Controversy over the army’s armored vehicles with ‘UN’ emblazoned on the streets of Dhaka during curfew

After a curfew was imposed to quell protests in Bangladesh, there was an uproar over the use of UN (United Nations)-marked armored vehicles as the army patrolled the streets of Dhaka.

In a video recorded by the international news agency Reuters, an armored vehicle of the army is passing in front of the metro rail station in Karwan Bazar area of ​​Dhaka. Its color is white and UN (United Nations) is written on it. The equipment of United Nations peacekeeping forces deployed in different countries of the world has ‘UN’ written on it and the military equipment is white in color.

Bangladesh Army’s use of ‘UN’ written and white colored armored vehicles has now created a controversy. The issue has also been brought to the attention of UN Secretary General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

A Bangladeshi journalist asked a question in this regard to Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, in a regular press conference held at the UN headquarters on July 22.

In response Mr. Dujarric said, vehicles marked ‘United Nations’ cannot be used in any case other than the UN’s designated work.

Mr. Dujarric said UN staff working in Bangladesh had noticed the matter and that vehicles with ‘United Nations’ written on them may have been used during the spate of events in the past few days.

“Countries that send troops and police personnel to the United Nations may only use the United Nations symbol in peacekeeping or political missions under a mandate set by the United Nations. We have conveyed our deep concern over the matter to the relevant authorities through our colleagues in Bangladesh,” said the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud spoke about the matter on Wednesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows the diplomats posted in Dhaka around the various places affected by the violence.

Later, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmood admitted to reporters that an armored vehicle of the army had “UN” written on it. Vehicles with UN logo ‘mistakenly’ used, says foreign minister. However, he mentioned that this vehicle (armored vehicle) is not of the United Nations, but of Bangladesh.

Hasan Mahmud said, no UN vehicle is being used. The vehicles were rented to UN peacekeeping missions. Those car logos were not erased by mistake. Now they have been deleted.

A large number of armored vehicles of the army were seen on the streets of Dhaka after the imposition of curfew. Many of these armored vehicles were white in color.

Military experts say that these white armored vehicles may have recently returned from a UN mission or are preparing to go on a mission. That is why they have white color.

The BBC emailed the military’s spokesperson, the Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations, to discuss the matter, but there was no response.

Are rent paid to the United Nations?

According to the website of Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, since the beginning of the peacekeeping mission in 1988, they have completed 63 peacekeeping missions in 40 countries and places.

One lakh sixty seven thousand members from Bangladesh military have participated in these missions. Currently, Bangladesh has about seven thousand peacekeepers in 12 countries of the world.

A senior former military officer who served in the UN peacekeeping mission told BBC Bangla that when Bangladesh goes on a peacekeeping mission, the UN takes the prescribed military and other equipment. The United Nations rents these equipments to Bangladesh.

The UN also pays the countries involved to transport the equipment and maintain it in the mission.

“The UN pays to use every thing. Before going to any mission, Bangladesh is informed by the United Nations that what kind of equipment will be needed. A list of these is given. Bangladesh takes the equipment and pays rent in return to the United Nations. When the mission is over, the equipment is brought back to the country,” said a former senior military officer.

UN agreements with countries participating in peacekeeping missions can be of two types. One is the ‘Wet Lease’ system and the other is the ‘Dry Lease’ system.

Under the ‘Wet Lease’ system, countries that send troops and police provide major equipment and maintain it themselves. The UN reimburses them for the cost.

Under the ‘Dry Lease’ arrangement, the respective countries send troops as well as major equipment. But the maintenance of that equipment is the responsibility of the United Nations. The United Nations does these things through other countries or contractors.

The UN pays for countries that send equipment, regardless of who is responsible for maintenance.

After completing the mission, the participants bring the equipment back to their home country. The army can then use them at home or take the equipment to other peacekeeping missions. However, if it is not engaged in the work of the United Nations, it cannot be written ‘UN’.

Retired Brigadier M Sakhawat Hossain told BBC Bangla that the United Nations has already given money to Bangladesh for the equipment which is painted white.

“The money that the government receives from the United Nations comes as foreign currency,” said Mr. Hussain.

There are memoranda of understanding between countries participating in peacekeeping missions and the United Nations on how troops will be deployed, supplies, weapons and finances managed in UN missions.

1996 On the basis of a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the countries participating in the peacekeeping mission and the United Nations.

Everything is decided on the basis of this MoU. What kind of military equipment will be used in the peacekeeping mission, what kind of accommodation will be needed for the troops – these things are covered in the memorandum of understanding.

The MoU also specifies how countries participating in peacekeeping missions will receive funding from the United Nations.

Who pays?

According to the website of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the Security Council decides which country of the world the peacekeeping mission will be deployed.

Funding for peacekeeping missions is the responsibility of all UN member states. Article 17 of the United Nations Charter states that each member state shall contribute to peacekeeping missions according to their resources and financial capacity.

But the five permanent member states of the Security Council – the US, China, Britain, Russia and France – will provide the bulk of the funding. Because they have a special responsibility in maintaining international peace.

When the decision to deploy peacekeeping forces in a country is passed by the UN Security Council, a survey is conducted in that country. Through this the demand is determined. That is, how many troops will be needed, what kind of military equipment will be needed, necessary supplies – etc.

The UN peacekeeping mission had a budget of about six and a half billion dollars in a year from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

The United States is the top contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The United States provided about 28 percent of the total budget. Next is the position of China. China provided 15 percent of the peacekeeping mission’s total budget. Japan is in the third position, they gave eight and a half percent of the total budget.

According to the website of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, the government of the respective country pays the salaries according to the rank and salary of the military personnel participating in the mission. The government of the concerned country takes that money from the United Nations. Here is a standard set by the United Nations General Assembly. They are paid accordingly.

According to the United Nations website, on July 1, 2019, a soldier was paid $1,428.

In addition, the United Nations also pays for the military equipment used by the countries participating in the mission.