Three Bangladesh peacekeepers killed in Mali: ISPR

Three Bangladesh Army personnel have been killed in an attack by terrorists while serving the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, says the military's media wing.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 24 Sept 2017, 12:49 PM
Updated : 24 Sept 2017, 01:37 PM

In a statement, the Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate or ISPR said four others, including a major, were injured on Sunday when an IED went off during a confrontation with terrorists.

Those killed in the offensive are Sergeant Altaf, Lance Corporal Zakirul and Soldier Monowar.

The ISPR said those injured -- Major Zadid, Corporal Mahim, soldiers Sabuj and Sarwar-- are being treated at a hospital in Gao city.

It said the Bangladeshi peacekeepers were on their way back to the camp when they came under attack after a successful encounter with terrorists.

“At one stage of the fight, an improvised explosive device or IED exploded, killing three Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounding four,” the statement said.

The United Nations deployed peacekeepers in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, in 2013 after the Malian and French forces launched an operation in response to territorial gains by Islamist rebels.

According to the UN, 15,209 uniformed personnel are working in the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali or MINUSMA.

The number of Bangladeshis working in the UN peacekeeping missions is 7,636.

Until Aug 31 this year, 129 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in UN peacekeeping missions, and six of those casualties have been in MINUSMA.