Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who laid down their lives while serving under the UN flag in Abyei will be posthumously honoured with the prestigious ‘Dag Hammarskjöld Medal’ at the United Nations Headquarters on June 5.
The medals will be formally presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres during a solemn ceremony marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which will be observed at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 5, according to a UN press release.
The six fallen heroes from Bangladesh are identified as Md Jahangir Alam, Md Sobuj Mia, Md Masud Rana, Md Mominul Islam, Shamim Reza, and Santo Mondol.
They were tragically killed in a drone strike on December 13, 2025, while serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
During the commemorative event, the Secretary-General will lay a wreath in deep honour of nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
He will present the ‘Dag Hammarskjöld Medal’ posthumously to 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from various countries who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, including 59 who died last year.
Bangladesh currently stands as the fourth-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, with more than 4,000 military and police personnel—including 277 women—actively deployed in complex missions across Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
According to United Nations data, more than 50,000 civilian, military, and police peacekeepers are currently serving in some of the world's most difficult and volatile environments. A total of 118 nations contribute personnel to 11 active UN peacekeeping missions.
The UN General Assembly originally established the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in 2002, choosing May 29 to commemorate the creation of the very first UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, back in 1948.
This year's global theme, “Invest in Peace”, highlights the critical importance of sustained political and financial backing for peacekeeping operations at a time of escalating global conflicts and shrinking international resources.
In his official message marking the day, Secretary-General Guterres paid tribute to peacekeepers past and present, while calling for greater international efforts to ensure their safety and field security.
“Peacekeeping is a proven and cost-effective way to restore stability and hope, but it requires steady political backing and reliable financial support,” the UN Chief stated.
Echoing these sentiments, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix noted that peacekeepers continue to protect vulnerable civilians, prevent localized violence, and keep hope alive in some of the world's most challenging landscapes.
“Investing in peacekeeping means investing in stability, prevention and the possibility of peace itself,” Lacroix said.
During the upcoming observance, the Secretary-General will also present the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage, the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, and the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year Award to outstanding individual peacekeeping personnel.
