UN honours Bangladesh peacekeepers for service and sacrifice

Bangla Press Desk:  The United Nations on Thursday paid tribute to Bangladesh’s peacekeepers, recognising their service and sacrifice in global peacekeeping operations, in a post shared on its official Facebook page.

Since 1948, more than two million people have served as UN peacekeepers in conflict zones around the world, including over 65,000 today. They provide security, stability and hope to war-affected communities, often at great personal risk and under harsh conditions, far from their families. More than 4,400 peacekeepers have lost their lives in service.

The UN relies on personnel contributed by individual member states to carry out its peacekeeping missions. Peacekeepers from over 100 countries work together to protect civilians, support peace processes and deliver humanitarian aid. Beyond mandated duties, they provide free medical and veterinary care, access to water, education support, and help build infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Bangladesh is the third-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. Currently, more than 5,600 Bangladeshi personnel, including 435 women, serve across seven operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. They help protect civilians, foster conditions for lasting peace, and support humanitarian efforts.

Bangladesh first joined UN peacekeeping in 1988, sending 15 military observers to the UN Iraq-Iran Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). Since then, 168 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.

The UN commended Bangladesh and all contributing countries for their dedication, courage and compassion, emphasising the enduring legacy of peacekeepers worldwide.

BP/SP