Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed while serving in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) will be posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal during this year’s observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at UN Headquarters in New York on June 5.
According to the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres will lay a wreath in honour of nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948 and preside over a ceremony recognising 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who died in the line of duty.
Among them are 59 personnel who lost their lives in 2025.
The six Bangladeshi peacekeepers to be honoured are Pvt Md Jahangir Alam, Pvt Md Sobuj Mia, Cpl Md Masud Rana, Pvt Md Mominul Islam, Pvt Shamim Reza and Pvt Santo Mondol.
They were killed in a drone strike on December 13, 2025, while serving with UNISFA.
The observance coincides with the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, marked annually on May 29 to pay tribute to uniformed and civilian personnel serving in UN peace operations worldwide.
The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 and commemorates the creation of the first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, in 1948.
Bangladesh remains one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
The country currently deploys more than 4,000 military and police personnel, including 277 women, across missions in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
Bangladesh is currently the fourth-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.
The UN said more than 50,000 civilian, military, and police peacekeepers are currently serving under the UN flag in some of the world’s most challenging conflict zones.
A total of 118 countries contribute uniformed personnel to 11 peacekeeping missions.
This year’s theme, “Invest in Peace,” highlights the role of peacekeeping operations in supporting political solutions, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and preventing conflicts from escalating at a time when missions face growing operational challenges and resource constraints.
In a message marking the day, Guterres paid tribute to peacekeepers who have lost their lives in service and stressed the need to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel.
He said peacekeeping remains a proven and cost-effective tool for restoring stability and supporting peace efforts in conflict-affected regions.
The June 5 ceremony will also include the presentation of the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage, the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, and the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said UN peacekeepers continue to protect civilians and help prevent violence in some of the world’s most difficult environments despite rising conflicts and shrinking resources.
He said investing in peacekeeping is an investment in stability, prevention, and the possibility of lasting peace.