The lifeless bodies of six Bangladeshi soldiers, who were tragically killed in a drone strike while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Abeyi, Sudan, have returned to Dhaka. Upon arrival, state honours will be accorded to them, and formal funeral rites will be held in their homeland.
The aircraft carrying the bodies touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday morning, shortly before 11:15 a.m. Bangladesh Standard Time. The plane had departed from Entebbe Airport in Uganda the previous evening at 7:00 p.m., traversing thousands of miles to bring the six fallen heroes home.
Eight other peacekeepers injured in the same attack are currently receiving treatment in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the Bangladesh Armed Forces, all injured personnel are now stable.
The fatal incident occurred on 13 December at the Kadugli Logistics Base in Abeyi, Sudan, under the UN peacekeeping mission. Local reports indicate that between 3:40 p.m. and 3:50 p.m., a faction of armed separatists carried out an unexpected drone assault on the base, instantly claiming the lives of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
Fallen Peacekeepers:
| Name | Rank/Role | District of Origin |
| Md. Masud Rana | Corporal | Natore |
| Md. Mominul Islam | Soldier | Kurigram |
| Shanto Mondal | Soldier | Kurigram |
| Shamim Reza | Soldier | Rajbari |
| Mohammad Jahangir Alam | Mess Waiter | Kishoreganj |
| Md. Sabuj Mia | Laundry Staff | Gaibandha |
Injured Peacekeepers (currently in Nairobi):
| Name | Rank | District | Condition |
| Khondkar Khalekuzzaman | Lt. Colonel | Kushtia | Stable |
| Md. Mostakim Hossain | Sergeant | Dinajpur | Stable |
| Afroza Parvin Iti | Corporal | Dhaka | Stable |
| Mohibul Islam | Lance Corporal | Barguna | Stable |
| Md. Mezboul Kabir | Soldier | Kurigram | Critical, post-surgery |
| Umm-e-Hani Akter | Soldier | Rangpur | Stable |
| Chumki Akter | Soldier | Manikganj | Stable |
| Md. Manazir Ahsan | Soldier | Noakhali | Stable |
The Bangladesh Armed Forces reported that Mezboul Kabir underwent successful surgery and is currently under intensive monitoring, while one of the injured has already been discharged.
Bangladesh began contributing to UN peacekeeping operations in 1988 with just 15 personnel. Today, it stands as the leading troop-contributing country among 119 nations. Over the years, 168 Bangladeshi service members—including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police personnel—have sacrificed their lives for global peace. The six soldiers who fell in Sudan join this solemn roll of honour, further elevating Bangladesh’s reputation in the international arena.