Bangladesh mourns the death of six of its soldiers killed in an attack on a UN peacekeeping base in Sudan
Drones and heavy weapons were used against the peacekeeping base in the Abyei region. Eight more soldiers were wounded. Rescue and medical operations are still underway. Guterres says the "alarming" attack might constitute a war crime. Bangladesh has been involved in peacekeeping missions since 1988, earning global recognition and an excellent reputation.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others wounded in an attack by an armed group on a United Nations peacekeeping base in Sudan's Abyei region.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the public relations division of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, confirmed the incident in a statement to the media and the public.
The attack, carried out using drones and heavy weapons, targeted the United Nations base amid ongoing clashes in the oil-rich region disputed between Sudan and South Sudan.
While fighting continues in the area, the ISPR said, rescue and medical operations are underway.
The Bangladesh Army, in a statement on its official Facebook page, reported that 14 peacekeepers were ambushed by terrorists.
“[S]ix of our brave peacekeepers have embraced martyrdom and eight others have been injured," it read.
Among the injured, one remains in critical condition after surgery; others were airlifted for advanced treatment.
The fallen soldiers are Corporal Masud Rana (Nator), soldiers Mominul Islam (Kurigram), Shamim Reza (Rajbari), and Shanto Mandal (Kurigram), mess waiter Mohammad Jahangir Alam (Kishoreganj), and laundry worker Sabuj Mia (Gaibandha).
Their sacrifice, the army said, "will remain a shining and glorious symbol of Bangladesh's commitment to establishing world peace."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the "alarming" event, warning that such attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law.
In a personal phone call to Bangladesh’s interim leader, Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus, Guterres expressed his deepest condolences to Bangladesh and the families of the victims. "I am deeply shocked and alarmed by the attack on Bangladeshi peacekeepers," he is quoted as saying.
The Abyei region, where the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA) operates, has been a hotbed of violence for years.
Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have destabilised the region since the division of Sudan in 2011. Kaduguli, the capital of Kordofan State, has been the scene of intense fighting for nearly three years.
Bangladesh, a leading contributor to UN peacekeeping missions since 1988, has earned global recognition for its reliability and ability to provide rapid deployment.
More than 160 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have lost their lives in missions in Congo, Mali, and South Sudan.
In 2022, the UN recognised the Bangladeshi women's medical team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the most valuable contingent, reaffirming its excellent reputation.
The government, political leaders, and ordinary Bangladeshis have expressed deep condolences over the tragedy.
“The sacrifice of these martyrs will forever illuminate Bangladesh’s image as a humane and responsible state,” the ISPR said in another statement, urging the country to honour their memory.
Beyond their valour, peacekeeping contributes significantly to Bangladesh's economy through remittances and by strengthening its diplomatic standing worldwide.
Its unwavering dedication reflects a deep commitment to justice and humanity, even at the cost of lives.
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