Army contingent leaves for UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

A 112-member contingent of Bangladesh Army left Dhaka on Tuesday to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali for the first time.

The team of army personnel – headed by Col Mohammad Jahangir Harun – left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a UN chartered flight at around 4pm.

Though the Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been contributing directly to different UN peacekeeping operations in several countries, this is the first time that they are assigned for the mission styled ‘United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Brig Gen Abdus Sobhan Chowdhury, Director of the Supply and Transport Department of the Army Headquarters, bid farewell to the Mali bound team at the airport.

In his brief speech, prior to the departure, he urged the team to work with honesty, sincerity and professionalism to earn appreciation and good name for the country.

Besides the 112-member contingent, as many as 1,446 Bangladesh troops will join the peacekeeping mission in the African nation. It includes an infantry unit of the army, two signal units, an engineering unit, a transport unit and a riverine unit of Bangladesh Navy.

Bangladesh started its contribution to UN peace support operation in 1988 by participating first in United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG).

Bangladesh Armed Forces has so far participated in 54 peacekeeping missions in 38 countries.