The United Nations has honoured three Bangladeshi peacekeepers who laid down their lives while serving in the peace operations of the global body. Md Abul Bashar, Sainik of Bangladesh Army, serving in the UN stabilisation mission in Mali, Africa made the supreme sacrifice on October 13, last year. Constable Motaher Hosen and Constable Md Samidul Islam of Bangladesh Police, serving in the same Mission, also sacrificed their lives on May 15, last year.
With these three peacekeepers, the total number of deaths of Bangladeshi peacekeepers stood at 133. Bangladesh, one of the largest contributors of military and police peacekeepers to the UN, started sending peacekeepers to conflict-stricken countries to establish peace in 1989.
Permanent representative to the UN Abassador Masud Bin Momen received medals for the three deceased peacekeepers of Bangladesh in the presence of
Mission’s defence advisor brigadier general Khan Firoz Ahmed and the official of Bangladesh army, navy, air force and police working at UN headquarters, according to a press release issued by the permanent mission yesterday.
At the opening ceremony of the event, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres laid floral wreath in honour of all fallen peacekeepers at the peacekeeping memorial site, North Lawn of the UN headquarters.
The permanent representatives of member countries, diplomats, military and police officials, UN officials and representatives of troop and police contributing countries attended the event.
“Those we honour today died while protecting the world’s most vulnerable people and supporting countries in making the difficult transition from conflict to peace” said the secretary-general said while addressing the gathering. He lauded the supreme sacrifices made by 117 brave civil and defence peacekeepers during 2016. A moment of silence was observed to pay respect to the supreme sacrifices of the peacekeepers for the cause of global peace.