United Nations officials in Mali have paid tributes to four fallen Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who were killed in the line of duty on February 28, in the Mopti region of Mali.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) Mahamat Saleh Annadif and the MINUSMA Force Commander General Jean-Paul Deconinck were present at the ceremony held at the MINUSMA Operational Base in Bamako on Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, the two senior officials visited the Bangladeshi base in Gao to express in person their condolences to the fallen peacekeepers colleagues and to assure them of their full support, said a press release on Wednesday.

‘They left their families, loved ones and communities, enthusiastic to contribute to peace and stability. Like their beloved brothers-in-arms of the other contingents, they too died because they wore the uniform of the United Nations. But let there be no mistake; they died as heroes of peace,’ SRSG Annadif told the UN staff gathered at the ceremony.

Recalling the unique security context in which MINUSMA is executing its mandate, the MINUSMA Head urged his colleagues to continue to remain ‘stronger than ever, united, committed to the implementation of our mandate: that of the stabilisation and restoration of peace in Mali.’

Along the same lines as Annadif, General Deconinck urged peacekeepers, MINUSMA civilians and partners present, to Mission’s action in Mali: ‘The enemy’s objective is to hinder any initiative that helps Mali out of this crisis. It is aimed at all friends of peace, not only MINUSMA but also the Malian Armed Forces, our international partners and the people. And that’s not acceptable. And that’s the reason we’re here.’

On February 28, four Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers were killed and four others injured in an IED blast at Douentza in central Mali.

The deceased were identified as Warrant Officer Abul Kalam of Pirojpur, Lance Corporal Akther of Mymensingh, Soldier Raihan of Pabna and Soldier (chef) Jamal of Chapainawabganj districts.