UN honours 4 Bangladeshi fallen peacekeepers

Four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been honoured at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.

They are Sergeant Altaf Hossain, Lance Corporal Jakirul Alam Sarkar, and Private Monowar Hossain, who lost their lives while serving with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, and Private Abdur Rahim, who served with the UN mission in the Central African Republic.

Bangladesh is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel -- over 6,990 enlisted military and police personnel -- to UN peacekeeping operations worldwide.

Commemorating International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday paid tributes to the service and sacrifice made by the UN “blue helmets”, according to UN News Centre.

Since the first peacekeeping mission deployed 70 years ago, more than 3,700 military and police personnel, and civilians who chose to serve, have lost their lives.

“These peacekeepers gave their lives to protect the lives of others. We're forever in their debt, and they're always in our hearts,” said Guterres at a ceremony at the UN Headquarters.