The bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who were killed in a terrorist drone attack at a United Nations peacekeeping base in Sudan, have arrived in Bangladesh. Their Namaz-e-Janaza will be held today (Sunday) at the Central Mosque of Dhaka Cantonment, after which they will be flown by helicopter to their respective hometowns for burial with full military honours.

The flight carrying the bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:05 am on Saturday (December 20).

The information was given in a press release sent by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to ISPR, the six peacekeepers were martyred during the brutal drone attack on a UN peacekeeping base in the Abyei area of Sudan on December 13. Their bodies were returned to Bangladesh aboard an Emirates Airlines flight.

Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army, received the bodies at the airport.

Also present during the reception were the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, the Acting UN Resident Representative in Bangladesh, a representative of the UN mission’s Force Commander in Abyei, the Chief Community Liaison Officer, the Director General (UN) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director of Overseas Operations, senior military and civilian officials, and members of the media.

All attendees observed a one-minute silence, and military personnel paid tribute with a salute in honour of the fallen peacekeepers.

ISPR further said that after the Namaz-e-Janaza at Dhaka Cantonment Central Mosque on Sunday, the bodies will be flown to their respective homes for burial with full military honours.

Noted that in the same drone attack, six peacekeepers were martyred and nine others were injured. Eight of the injured were treated at Aga Khan University Hospital (Level-3) in Nairobi, Kenya. All injured personnel are now out of danger.