Diplomatic Correspondent – Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who lost their lives while serving in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in Kadugli, Sudan, have been posthumously honored with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
The honors were conferred at a ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York shared the information on Saturday (June 6).
UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented the medals to Ambassador Salauddin Noman Chowdhury, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, on behalf of the fallen heroes. The awards recognize their exceptional courage, ultimate sacrifice, and dedication to establishing international peace and security.
Honoring the Fallen Heroes
The six Bangladeshi peacekeepers honored with the posthumous award are:
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Corporal Md. Masud Rana
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Private Md. Jahangir Alam
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Private Md. Sabuj Miah
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Private Md. Mominul Islam
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Private Shamim Reza
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Private Santo Mondal
These brave peacekeepers were killed in a drone attack on December 13, 2025, while performing their duties under the UN flag.
A Global Tribute to Peacekeepers
During the ceremony, the UN Secretary-General observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the memory of nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1948.
He also highlighted the vital contributions of more than 50,000 peacekeepers currently deployed in various missions across the globe.
This year, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was posthumously awarded to 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers from 33 member states.
Following the ceremony, Ambassador Salauddin Noman Chowdhury paid his respects to the fallen peacekeepers by signing the official condolence book at the UN.
About the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal
Introduced by the UN Security Council in 1997, the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is a prestigious posthumous honor.
It is awarded to recognize the invaluable contributions and supreme sacrifices of military, police, and civilian personnel who lose their lives while serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations.