Peacekeepers under attack

We are shocked and mourn the losses of lives with the family members of the dead peacekeepers

Following various contributions in maintaining global peace and stability since 1988 – Bangladesh soldiers and members of other regular forces have indisputably glorified the nation by adding laurels and tales of courage and bravery. In fact, the success rates of our peacekeeping missions have been so commendable that a globally reputed media agency branded our peacekeepers as the ‘cream of UN peacekeeping missions’. But this international recognition came at a high price.

However, day before yesterday, three Bangladeshi peacekeepers -- serving a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali-- have been killed and four others injured in explosions during a clash with criminals. The peacekeepers were ambushed by a much stronger criminal group while returning to their camp. At one stage, some improvised explosive devices (IED) exploded and killed the three Bangladeshis.

We are shocked and mourn the losses of lives with the family members of the dead peacekeepers.

According to the Operations Directorate of the Army Headquarters, 130 Bangladesh peacekeepers have died so far, and now we have three more in the list of casualties. Among the deceased  84 belongs to the Bangladesh Army, one to Bangladesh Navy and three to Bangladesh Air Force. In the biggest of the incidents, in December 2003, 63 soldiers, including 15 officers, were killed in a plane crash in the central African state of Benin.

A total of 7,010 UN peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and the police are now deployed in eight ongoing UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs).  In the past 27 years, Bangladesh has earned over Tk. 5,000 crore by sending out a total of 1, 13,258 soldiers in various peacekeeping missions. Apart from the earned money, professional contribution and worldwide admiration -- the sad part is each life lost is priceless. They will never come back to us again.

Given the high risks involved in peacekeeping operations, it is true that any soldier can get killed anywhere and at any point of time. But even then we call for our peacekeepers to remain extraordinarily vigilant in the face of the most unexpected odds in foreign lands. Finally, it has been often alleged that our members in peacekeeping missions are often under equipped and deployed with only basic weaponry and instruments. The government should immediately address this predicament and equip our peacekeepers with advanced weapons, instruments and technologies.

Peacekeepers under attack

We are shocked and mourn the losses of lives with the family members of the dead peacekeepers

Following various contributions in maintaining global peace and stability since 1988 Bangladesh soldiers and members of other regular forces have indisputably glorified the nation by adding laurels and tales of courage and bravery. In fact, the success rates of our peacekeeping missions have been so commendable that a globally reputed media agency branded our peacekeepers as the cream of UN peacekeeping missions. But this international recognition came at a high price. However, day before yesterday, three Bangladeshi peacekeepers -- serving a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali-- have been killed and four others injured in explosions during a clash with criminals. The peacekeepers were ambushed by a much stronger criminal group while returning to their camp. At one stage, some improvised explosive devices (IED) exploded and killed the three Bangladeshis. We are shocked and mourn the losses of lives with the family members of the dead peacekeepers. According to the Operations Directorate of the Army Headquarters, 130 Bangladesh peacekeepers have died so far, and now we have three more in the list of casualties. Among the deceased 84 belongs to the Bangladesh Army, one to Bangladesh Navy and three to Bangladesh Air Force. In the biggest of the incidents, in December 2003, 63 soldiers, including 15 officers, were killed in a plane crash in the central African state of Benin. A total of 7,010 UN peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force and the police are now deployed in eight ongoing UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs). In the past 27 years, Bangladesh has earned over Tk. 5,000 crore by sending out a total of 1, 13,258 soldiers in various peacekeeping missions. Apart from the earned money, professional contribution and worldwide admiration -- the sad part is each life lost is priceless. They will never come back to us again. Given the high risks involved in peacekeeping operations, it is true that any soldier can get killed anywhere and at any point of time. But even then we call for our peacekeepers to remain extraordinarily vigilant in the face of the most unexpected odds in foreign lands. Finally, it has been often alleged that our members in peacekeeping missions are often under equipped and deployed with only basic weaponry and instruments. The government should immediately address this predicament and equip our peacekeepers with advanced weapons, instruments and technologies.