UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined Bangladesh on Sunday in mourning the tragic death of six members of the Bangladesh Army who were serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan.
The six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed, and eight others were injured in a drone attack on Saturday noon.
The UN chief expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in a post on X.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed the identities of the six Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
According to ISPR, the attack occurred at the Kadugli logistics base in the Abyei area of Sudan between 3:40 pm and 3:50 pm local time.
The peacekeepers who lost their lives are Corporal Md Masud Rana, ASC, from Natore; Sainik Md Mominul Islam, Bir, from Kurigram; Sainik Shamim Reza, Bir, from Rajbari; Sainik Shanta Mondal, Bir, from Kurigram; Mess Waiter Mohammad Jahangir Alam from Kishoreganj; and laundry employee Md Sabuj Mia from Gaibandha.
The injured peacekeepers are Lieutenant Colonel Khondaker Khalekuzzaman, PSC, Ordnance, from Kushtia; Sergeant Md Mostakim Hossain, Bir, from Dinajpur; Corporal Afroza Parvin Eti, Signals, from Dhaka; Lance Corporal Mohibul Islam, EME, from Barguna; Sainik Md Mezbaul Kabir, Bir, from Kurigram; Sainik Umme Hani Akter, Engineers, from Rangpur; Sainik Chumki Akter, Ordnance, from Manikganj; and Sainik Md Manazir Ahsan, Bir, from Noakhali.
ISPR said all eight injured peacekeepers are receiving necessary medical treatment. Among them, Sainik Md Mezbaul Kabir, who was in critical condition, has undergone successful surgery and is now under close observation.
The remaining seven injured peacekeepers were later evacuated by helicopter for advanced treatment and are now out of danger, the statement added.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said he was deeply saddened and heartbroken by the killing of six brave Bangladeshi peacekeepers and the injury of eight others, including three female soldiers.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also expressed deep shock and sorrow over the killing of the six peacekeepers.
He strongly condemned the attack, saying that assaults on peacekeepers are a serious crime against humanity.
NCP head Nahid Islam also expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic deaths.
The Bangladesh Communist Party, in a press release, expressed solidarity with the Bangladesh Army over its great loss.
A BSS report adds, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday condemned the deadly attack, saying Bangladesh remains firmly committed to global peace and multilateral cooperation despite the tragic loss of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
"In line with our commitment to global peace, we strongly condemn yesterday's cowardly attack on the UN peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, which tragically claimed the lives of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and left several others injured," he said.
The foreign adviser was addressing the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Riyadh.
UNB adds: The government through its Permanent Mission to the UN in New York requested the UN to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured peacekeepers, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh Mission in New York is in close touch with the UN and working together to extend all support to the Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent there.
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