Bodies of 6 Bangladesh Army Peacekeepers Killed in Sudan Arrive in Bangladesh

The bodies of six Bangladesh Army peacekeepers, martyred in a terrorist drone attack on a United Nations mission base in Sudan, arrived in Dhaka today, drawing solemn tributes from military and civil authorities.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, the mortal remains arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) aboard an Emirates Airlines flight.

The bodies were received by Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army.

The chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, the acting resident representative of the United Nations in Bangladesh, a representative of the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, military officers, and members of the media were also present.

At the airport reception, all attendees observed a one-minute silence, while military personnel rendered salutes in honour of the fallen peacekeepers.

The six peacekeepers were martyred in a terrorist drone attack on a UN peacekeeping base in the Abyei area of Sudan on December 13.

Following funeral prayers at the Central Mosque of Dhaka Cantonment on December 21, the bodies will be flown by helicopter to their respective hometowns for burial with full military honours.

In the same attack, nine other Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured. Of them, eight are currently undergoing treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, and all are reported to be out of danger.