Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal for their sacrifice while serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in Sudan’s Kadugli region.
The award was presented during a ceremony held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres handed over the medals to Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.
The honor recognizes courage, sacrifice, and dedication in maintaining international peace and security.
Peacekeepers Honoured
The six deceased peacekeepers are:
Corporal Md. Masud Rana, Private Md. Jahangir Alam, Private Md. Sabuj Mia, Private Md. Mominul Islam, Private Shamim Reza, and Private Santo Mondal.
They were killed in a drone attack on December 13, 2025, while serving under the UN flag.
Global Tribute
The ceremony observed a one-minute silence in memory of nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948 while serving in UN missions.
UN officials also highlighted the contributions of more than 50,000 peacekeepers currently deployed in various missions worldwide.
Medal Significance
This year, 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from 33 countries were posthumously honored with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
Established in 1997 by the UN Security Council, the medal recognizes personnel who die while serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations, honoring their service and ultimate sacrifice.
