Three fallen peacekeepers of Bangladesh honored by the UN

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : Three peacekeepers of Bangladesh who laid down their lives while serving in the UN peace operations last year are honored 24 May by awarding “Dag Hammarskjöld Medal” along with other 117 personnel of 43 peacekeepers contributing countries at the United Nations while observing the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Wreath-laying Ceremony on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Remarks by the Secretary-General
Met by Canadian defense minister
Group photo with Force Commanders

Md. Abul Bashar, Sainik of Bangladesh Army, serving in the UN stabilization mission in Mali made the supreme sacrifice on 13 October, last year. Constable Motaher Hosen and Constable Md. Samidul Islam of Bangladesh Police serving in the same Mission also died on 15 May, last year.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen received medal for the three deceased peacekeepers of Bangladesh while Mission’s Defense Advisor Brigadier General Khan Firoz Ahmed and the official of Bangladesh Army, Navy, Airforce and Police working at UN headquarters, were also present on the occasion.

At the Opening Ceremony of the event, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres laid floral wreath in honor of all fallen peacekeepers at Peacekeeping Memorial Site, North Lawn, UN Headquarters.

The permanent representatives of member countries, diplomats, Military and Police Official, UN officials and representatives of Troops & Police contributing countries attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, the Secretary General said, “Those we honour today died while protecting the world’s most vulnerable people and supporting countries in making the difficult transition from conflict to peace”. The Secretary General lauded the supreme sacrifices made by 117 brave Civil and defense peacekeepers during 2016. A moment of silence was observed to pay respect to the supreme sacrifices of the peacekeepers for the cause of global peace.

Bangladesh, one of the largest contributors of military and police peacekeepers to the UN, lost a total 133 peacekeepers since 1989, the year, it had started sending peacekeepers to conflict-stricken countries to establish peace there.