Presently, Bangladesh might not be a war-torn country, but peace is not only about ending wars. It is about safety in streets, trust in our institutions and respect within our communities.

According to the Institute for Economics and Peace Index, Bangladesh ranked 123rd out of 163 countries in 2025. The index evaluates countries based on multiple factors including internal security, levels of violence, political stability and societal safety. This ranking reflects that the country is currently in a war against its own challenges.

So, on this World Peace and Understanding Day, we should dive deeper to understand where Bangladesh stands now in the larger conversations about peace.

Bangladesh on the Global Peace Stage
Bangladesh has built a strong reputation worldwide by being one of the largest contributors to United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Since 1988, Bangladesh has continued serving in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, lending a hand to stabilise post-conflict societies.

One of the most challenging humanitarian challenges Bangladesh faced was during the Rohingya refugee crisis. Our country had to shelter over a million displaced people. Despite the immense economic pressures, they were given access to basic necessities with a faint hope for a peaceful resolution.

In every wave of distress that swept across the nation, Bangladesh stood as a strong wall to combat the crisis and maintain peace for the people in the country.

The Inner Reality: Safety, Trust and Justice
Peace must be measured within borders as much as beyond them. In recent times, Bangladesh has witnessed overwhelming cases of mob violence, often triggered by misinformation circulated online. Mostly, it is also because of lack of proper investigations that people are taking laws into their own hands. Such incidents reveal a disturbing and troubling gap between citizens and formal legal processes.

Concerns have now extended beyond mob violence. In certain communities, reports of theft, robbery and street crimes have created uncertainty in specific areas. If ordinary citizens feel unsafe in their daily lives, peace will soon disappear, leaving behind nothing but chaos. Furthermore, minority communities have also reported episodes of targeted violence and intimidation. Even isolated incidents can have a wider psychological impact, raising fears about equal protection under law. A peaceful society requires that every citizen, regardless of religion, ethnicity and background, feels equally secure.

Moreover, distress escalates in a country where crime is not followed by proper justice. When high-profile offences remain unsolved for long periods, the public starts to lose confidence in the judiciary system. Gradually, as justice becomes inaccessible, it encourages extremism and deepens frustration among ordinary citizens.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh is slowly getting defined by such incidents in other countries, which is further complicating the national peace narrative.

Building Peace from Within
To establish peace within the borders, it requires multi-layered action. Encouraging civic education can promote tolerance and critical thinking. In addition, digital literacy initiatives may assist citizens to identify misinformation before it ignites panic.

Above all, peace demands inclusivity. Even if 1% of the population feels unsafe, then a nation is far away from ensuring protection and establishing harmony. It is high time that communities within our country resolve issues through discussions rather than aggression.

On World Peace and Understanding Day, Bangladesh stands at a crucial point. The upcoming challenge lies closer to home, where building a society in which safety, justice and trust are assured is essential. True peace is not only something a nation contributes to abroad. It is something it must guarantee within.