"Bangladesh Army is providing us an excellent historical service since 2003 after their deployment under a United Nations mandate in this area," said Delijacaq, mayor of the western city of Danane, while talking to the visiting Bangladesh media team near the name plaque of 'Bangladesh Road' yesterday.

Expressing deep gratitude to the Bangladesh battalion (Banbat) as well as the people of Bangladesh, the mayor said that after the recent civil war, they had no hospital, medicines and food and were involved in clashes.

"Banbat provided these essential items and services for us and brought peace among the tribes," he said. The 60-year-old mayor talked to reporters through an interpreter who works on behalf of the United Nations.

Highly appreciating the role of Banbat, particularly its former commander Manzur, the mayor said the people of Bangladesh are very good with kind heart. Danane city has a population of 68,000. They mostly migrated from neighbouring countries.

Delijacaq's family migrated from Senegal in 1905 when Danane was a small village.

Commander Manzur, he said, used to visit different parts of the city and adjacent villages and took many people to hospital on emergency basis on his own initiative.

Manjur controlled several clashes and conflicts between the two main tribes -- Yakuba and Malikka -- and brought them together to the negotiation table, the mayor said, adding that commander Manzur is now a popular figure to the local people.

Many couples are naming their newborn babies after Manzur, he said.

He also hoped that friendship would be established between Danane, Dhaka and Chittagong in the future.