Staff Reporter: The United Nations has awarded 129 peacekeepers, including eight Bangladeshis killed, with the ‘Dag Hammarskjöld Medal’. 129 peacekeepers from 44 countries, including eight Bangladeshi peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in UN peacekeeping operations, were awarded the ‘Dag Hammarskjöld Medal’ for the highest sacrifice at a ceremony held at the UN headquarters on Thursday (May 26). Among them, Bangladesh has 8 peacekeepers, which is the highest as a single country. In a virtual ceremony, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres handed over the medals of their respective countries to the Permanent Representatives of 44 countries, including Bangladesh. This medal commemorates the power, purity and immortality of life dedicated to the noble cause of world peace.
The 8 fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers awarded with the ‘Dag Hammarskjöld Medal’ are: WO Abdul Md Halim from MINUSMA, Mali; WO Md Saiful Imam Bhuiyan from MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo; LCPL Md Abdulla Al Mamun from MINUSCA, Central African Republic; SGT Md Ziaur Rahman from MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo; SGT Md Mobarak Hussain from MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo; SGT Mohammad Ibrahim from MINUSCA, Central African Republic; LCPL Md Saiful Islam from MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo; and Washerman Nurul Amin from UNMISS, South Sudan.
The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima received the medals on behalf of Bangladesh. The Permanent Mission will make necessary arrangements to send the medals to the family members of the deceased peacekeepers. Defense Advisor of Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN Mission also attended this virtual ceremony.
“I pay my deep homage to all the brave men and women in blue helmets who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag, and express my heartfelt condolences to their families and friends” said Ambassador Fatima in a condolence message given on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. She also mentioned that Bangladesh also lost many of its valiant soldiers in the line of their sacred duty for world peace. This sacrifice, however, has never deterred us from responding to the UN’s call for duty; rather reinforced our resolve to continue serving the cause of peace. The PR calls upon the international community to honor the memories of the fallen peacekeepers through its pursuit for peace and by ensuring a world free from want and sufferings.
The medals were virtually awarded by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in presence of the respective Permanent Representatives of 44 countries at the event to observe the ‘International Day of the UN Peacekeepers’. The theme for this year’s Day is “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security.” The UN Secretary-General also laid wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site in the North Lawn of the UNHQs in honour of all peacekeepers who have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag over the past seven decades.
Bangladesh is currently the top contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping operations and around 7000 peacekeepers are deployed in 9 peacekeeping missions at this moment. So far, 159 peacekeepers from Bangladesh have lost their lives while serving in the UN peacekeeping operations.
Each year, the United Nations observes the ‘International Day of the UN Peacekeepers’ at the UN headquarters premises. However, due to unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually this year.
BP/SM
