Bangladesh peacekeepers fallen in Mali remembered

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, has said the Bangladeshi soldiers who were killed in the Mali peacekeeping mission died as “heroes of peace”.

“They left their families, loved ones and communities, enthusiastic to contribute to peace and stability. Like their beloved brothers-in-arms of the other contingents, they too died because they wore the uniform of the United Nations. But let there be no mistake; they died as heroes of peace,” Annadif said at a memorial meeting.

The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations said the memorial ceremony was held on Tuesday morning at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission In Mali (MINUSMA) Operational Base in Bamako for the four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed on Feb 28.

MINUSMA Force Commander General Jean-Paul Deconinck was also present.

Warrant Officer Abul Kalam Azad, Corporal Mohammad Akter Hossin, and soldiers Mohammad Rayhan Ali and Jamal Uddin were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device on the Boni-Douentza road.

During the same attack four other peacekeepers were seriously injured.

Earlier in the week, the two senior officials visited the Bangladeshi base in Gao to express in person their condolences to the fallen peacekeepers colleagues and to assure them of their full support.

Recalling the unique security context in which MINUSMA is executing its mandate, the MINUSMA Head urged his colleagues to continue to remain "stronger than ever, united, committed to the implementation of our mandate: that of the stabilization and restoration of peace in Mali”.