Bangladeshi peacekeepers leave for Sudan

Jan 18, 2006 (DHAKA) — The last batch of 175 peacekeepers of the Bangladesh Army left here Tuesday to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

Nazrul Islam, public relations director in the armed forces of Bangladesh, told Xinhua Wednesday a total of 1,317 army and 78 naval personnel of Bangladesh are being deployed in Sudan as UN peacekeepers. Other members of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers have already arrived in Sudan.

The Bangladeshi peacekeepers are being deployed in the Juba area of south Sudan, which will be henceforth known as the Bangladesh sector. Colonel Nasimul Gani will command the Bangladesh sector.

Major General Fazle Elahi Akbar of the Bangladesh Army is currently working as the Force Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Forces in Sudan.

About 10,000 Bangladeshi soldiers are taking part in international peacekeeping missions in 12 countries. So far 63 Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in different accidents an actions.

(Xinhua)