A total of 174 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have died and 280 others injured while serving in United Nations missions abroad over the past 36 years. Since 1989, members of the Bangladesh armed forces and police have taken part in UN peacekeeping operations, often facing violent attacks by armed groups. The toll includes 150 armed forces personnel and 24 police officers, reflecting the high risks these men and women endure to maintain international peace and security.
The latest tragedy occurred on Saturday in Sudan’s Abyei region, when an armed attack targeted a UN peacekeeping camp, killing at least six Bangladesh Army personnel and injuring eight others. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) office reported that intense gunfire broke out inside and around the camp, resulting in significant casualties among the Bangladeshi contingent.
UN peacekeeping operations have been deployed in over 120 countries since 1948, with currently 14 active missions. Personnel from Bangladesh, alongside other countries, participate as soldiers, police, and support staff.
Personal loss, families in shock
In the hours before his death, soldier Shanto Mondol spoke with his family over video call. Mondol, 26, hailed from Satmadha Dararpar village, Rajarhat, Kurigram district. His elder brother, Sohag Mondol, recounted, “Shanto spoke to us on video call on Saturday evening. Later that night, we received news of the attack. He got married a year ago, and his wife is five months pregnant. We are still waiting for his body.”
Mandal joined the army in 2018 and went to the Sudan peacekeeping mission on 7 November. His father, Nur Islam Mondol, is a retired army member. His elder brother Sohag serves as a Lance Corporal in the Cumilla Cantonment.
Another peacekeeper, Mominul Islam, 38, from Parulerpar village, Pandul Union, Ulipur, Kurigram, also died in the attack. He leaves behind a wife, two daughters, and his parents. Islam had arrived in Sudan just 33 days ago. His father, Abdul Karim, said, “We spoke to him over video call on Saturday afternoon. By 11 pm, we learned of his death. We are still waiting for his body.”
Corporal Masud Rana from Natore and Mess waiter Mohammad Jahangir Alam, along with Soldier Shamim Reza from Rajbari and laundry worker Md Shobuj Mia from Gaibandha, were also among the victims. Families describe scenes of deep grief and heartbreak.
Bangladesh’s peacekeeping toll
Data from the Armed Forces Division shows that between 1989 and April 2025, 144 armed forces personnel died while serving in UN missions, with 257 seriously injured. Among the fallen, 131 were from the army, four from the navy, and nine from the air force.
According to Bangladesh Police Headquarters, 24 police personnel, including an Additional IG, have been killed on peacekeeping duty, with 15 others injured. Currently, Bangladesh police are deployed as peacekeepers in Mali, though a contingent was recently returned from Congo due to funding constraints.
The attacks underscore the high risks faced by Bangladeshi personnel abroad and the ongoing sacrifices they make in the name of global peace. Families across the country are now mourning, as the nation reflects on the human cost of maintaining security in conflict zones far from home.
