Bangladesh sends more than 1,600 peacekeepers to Sudan

DHAKA, May 27 (AFP) — Bangladesh said Friday it is sending a deployment of more than 1,600 troops to Sudan to take part in United Nations peacekeeping efforts.

The troops would be part of a 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping force helping to monitor the January accord that ended 21 years of civil war in Africa’s largest nation, said an armed forces spokesman.

The 1,639 Bangladeshi troops would not be involved in peacekeeping in the country’s troubled western Darfur region.

“One contingent of about 200 troops has already left for Sudan and the rest will follow between October 21 and 24. The deployment will be completed by the end of October,” he said.

Bangladesh is one of the biggest contributors to peacekeeping duties across the globe.

Nearly 10,000 troops from the Bangladesh army, navy and airforce are deployed in 12 countries, the spokesman added.