"When can their glory fade?"

The day was again 25th and this time the month was February. The nation was just catching its breath after the mourning on 21st. The news of the deaths of nine Bangladeshi soldiers came absolutely from the blue. We were not just ready to take anything like that.

To many of us it came like a surprise…since we knew our troops were engaged in peace keeping missions. What we didn't know…

it was a peace-enforcing mission in a region where scattered fighting is still on. To every single citizen of this poor country, this news was heart breaking.

Whenever the nation needed the brave soldiers, they responded and salvaged the countrymen from natural calamities, civil disorders and epidemics in flood or cyclone hit areas. In the general elections, recovery of illegal arms, construction of roads in hilly terrain, construction of shelter for the poor in the villages, establishing universities, medical colleges…

everywhere they have proved their worth. Our Armed Forces have undoubtedly made a huge contribution to the development of the country. To be fair there is no other organisation, which can match the Armed Forces in discipline, loyalty, integrity and dedication.

Thousands of miles from their home even in the continent of Africa, our soldiers performed with the same oath and same dedication. They assured the people of the crisis prone Congo to dream again about a peaceful life. Our soldiers constructed houses for them, made schools for their children, gave them much needed medication to keep them alive. They became so popular that the people of Congo started learning to speak Bangla and started singing Bangla songs. It was unbelievable when we saw an African crowd singing a Bangla folk song in a documentary made by a Bangladeshi TV channel. My heart was filled with respect and gratitude for those soldiers in Congo and thousands in many parts of the world.

But the news of their unfortunate deaths has shattered our joy. They were the soldiers of peace, messengers of a new sunrise. They were our brothers, our friends. They were the greatest sons of our motherland.