2 fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers honoured at UN HQ in New York

Two Bangladeshi fallen peacekeepers were honoured during the commemoration of International Day of UN Peacekeepers at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.

The peacekeepers are Major AKM Mahmudul Hasan, who was serving in the Central African Republic, and Lance Corporal Md Rabiul Mollah, who was serving in South Sudan UNMISS.

Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Ambassador Rabab Fatima received the "Dag Hammarskjold Medal" from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

A total of 117 peacekeepers of 42 countries, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty for world peace in 2021, were awarded in the ceremony.

Ambassador Fatima also signed the condolence book kept in the UN Headquarters and laid a floral wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site there in honour of all peacekeepers who have lost their lives during noble service of peacekeeping.

The Permanent Mission will make necessary arrangements to send the medals to the family members of the deceased peacekeepers.

"The sacrifice of the peacekeepers only strengthens our resolve to continue serving the cause of peace" Rabab Fatima said.

Bangladesh is currently the top contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations and around 6,802 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are deployed in nine peacekeeping missions at present. So far, 161 peacekeepers from Bangladesh have lost their lives.