UN chief Guterres condemns Sudan drone attack that resulted in deaths of Bangladeshi peacekeepers

UN Secretary General António Guterres has condemned the drone attacks in Sudan that led to the deaths of several Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers.

The UN chief expressed his condolences to the families of the dead and wished those injured a speedy recovery in a post on X.

Armed insurgents launched a drone attack on the United Nations base in Abyei, Sudan, killing six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injuring eight others.

The dead have been identified as Corporal Md Masud Rana (from Natore); soldiers Md Mominul Islam (from Kurigram), Shamim Reza (from Rajbari) and Shanto Mandal (from Kurigram); Mess Waiter Md Jahangir Alam (from Kishoreganj) and laundry worker Md Sabuj Mia (from Gaibandha).

The injured peacekeepers are Lt Col Khondaker Khalequzzaman (from Kushtia), Sgt Md Mostakim Hossain (from Dinajpur), Corporal Afroza Parvin Iti (from Dhaka), Lance Corporal Mohibul Islam (from Barguna); Soldier Md Mezbaul Kabir (from Kurigram), Mosammat Umme Hani Akhter (from Rangpur), Chumki Akhter (from Manikganj) and Md Manazir Ahsan (from Noakhali).

Among them, Mezbaul is in critical condition and is being kept under close observation, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a press release.

The UN secretary-general said, “Attacks against @UN peacekeepers like this one are unjustifiable & may constitute war crimes. I remind everyone of their obligation to protect UN personnel & civilians. There will need to be accountability.”