205 Bangladesh Army personnel head for UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo
1,044 more peacekeepers are expected to depart for the peacekeeping mission in DR Congo on five upcoming flights
First contingents of 205 Bangladesh Army personnel left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, on Monday, to join the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on rotation.
In addition, 1,044 peacekeepers will depart for the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo on five more flights on: 21 March, 9 April, 26 April, 14 May, and 31 May.
Brigadier General Monirul Islam Akhand, NDC, psc, Bangladesh Army, told a briefing on this occasion at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport that, "Bangladesh's peacekeepers have successfully completed more than 33 years of peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"Bangladesh's strong contribution to peacekeeping operations is universally appreciated and universally acknowledged. Since 31 August, 2020, Bangladesh has again achieved the status of the top peacekeeper sending country. Behind this glorious achievement lies the sincerity, tireless efforts, efficient professionalism and great self-sacrifice of the Bangladesh Armed Forces," he continued.
The Bangladesh Army has successfully participated in 62 peacekeeping missions, including seven ongoing missions. To date, a total of 1,41,605 members of the Bangladesh Army, including 406 women, have participated in this grand event, he added.
He further said, "the rotation activities of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, like other peacekeeping countries, were also temporarily suspended due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic."
"It was later re-launched under the timely direction of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the dedicated efforts of Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed, SBP (BAR), BSP, BGBM, PBGM, BGBMS, psc, G," he added.
