The Bangladeshi peacekeepers have made significant contributions to the international peacekeeping missions, frequently facing extreme challenges and dangers in conflict zones around the world.
Bangladesh, one of the largest troop contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions, has played an important role in these missions with great dedication and professionalism for more than three decades.
Since their first mission in 1988, Bangladeshi peacekeepers have served in various conflict zones, including DR Congo, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan (Darfur), and Western Sahara.
Bangladeshi peacekeepers play crucial roles in maintaining peace, protecting civilians, supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid, disarming rival armed groups, clearing landmines, assisting in elections, assisting in education, and making roads and highways in the mission areas.
This correspondent visited The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in June 2021.
During the visit, it was seen that members of the Bangladesh peacekeepers used to carry out their duties at high risk in Gao, Kidal and Mopti, more than 1200 kilometres away from Bamako, the capital city of Mali.
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was marked as the most dangerous peacekeeping mission in the world, where peacekeepers have the highest mortality rates.
Overcoming fears of attack at every moment, Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in the West African country of Mali were carrying out successful operations one after another by going far away from their camp in the desert.
Although they can lose lives in an explosion, the Bangladesh Army’s specialized search and detection team is at the forefront of identifying IEDs or improvised explosive devices to keep the lives of other members of the team safe.
Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were the largest single threat in Mali. The peacekeepers were becoming the main target of terrorists in Mali.
Bangladesh Army contingents deployed in Mali foiled a number of improvised explosive devices (IED) attacks and saved the lives of many people.
In Mali, all peacekeepers have to pay maximum attention to their own security while performing their duties. That is why it is very difficult for the peacekeepers to carry out the assigned task.
Bangladeshi soldiers working in UN missions said death lurks in every operation. Overcoming those obstacles with professionalism and courage, the members of the Bangladesh Army emerge victorious, and the red-green Bangladesh flag is flying.
In addition to security threats, the peacekeepers deployed at Gao and Kidal in Mali have to face extreme weather and scarcity of water.
The mobile and internet connections were very poor in Gao and Kidal, where the camp is located. Bangladeshi peacekeepers can hardly communicate with family members due to poor mobile networks and internet connections.
Besides this, they could not contact their family members for 10 to 20 days when they went out for long operations.
Besides male peacekeepers, female peacekeepers also played a vital role in the ongoing peace operations in MINUSMA.
Bangladeshi female peacekeepers have positioned themselves as a driving force for reducing women-based violence and conflict and working for the safety of women and children. They also run women’s empowerment, social campaigns, and various CIMIC activities in Mali.
Bangladesh Contingent in Mali has Female Engagement Team (FET), which consists of few highly professional female officers and soldiers who are extremely efficient and knowledgeable.
MINUSMA officials also believed that the female engagement team could access female networks in communities, thereby enhancing the overall understanding of the situation.
Peacekeepers from different countries live in separate camps in the same enclosed area. Together, these are called super camps. However, the camps are not peaceful as there is always the fear of attack.
This super camp is also attacked by armed terrorists. To crack the strong confidence of peacekeepers, they (terrorists) suddenly attacked.
However, the peacekeepers are adopting various strategies to prevent terrorist attacks and self-defence. Shelters or bunkers have been set up at different places in the camp.
During the visit, the force commander and other top UN officials highly praised Bangladesh Army peacekeepers deployed in Mali for their performance, high degree of professionalism, and discipline.
Last year, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Pierre Lacroix visited Bangladesh and highly praised the contribution of Bangladeshi peacekeepers engaged in the UN missions.
He also thanked Bangladesh and especially the Bangladesh Army for sending the highest number of peacekeepers for a long time.
Bangladeshi peacekeepers have successfully completed 63 UN peacekeeping operations in 43 countries, risking their lives for the greater good.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 168 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have given their lives in the last 35 years to maintain international peace.
