"Bangladesh supports a greater role for women in UN peace-keeping and peace building," Iftekhar told a debate organised by President of the UN Security Council to mark the 5th anniversary of adoption of a key resolution 1325 (2000) on "Women and Peace Keeping."

Referring to domestic experience back home, he said "we believe that gender main-streaming and women's empowerment are critical factors for development. We know such policies help marginalise extremist thought and action which includes the scourge of terrorism".

Prime minister Khaleda Zia and her government are committed to the implementation of such politics, which are bringing about "a quite social transformation" in Bangladesh, he said.

During adoption of Reso-lution 1325 Bangladesh was a member of the Security Council and played a key role in the process, said a message received from New York Mission yesterday.