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Earning love and respect in a faraway land

Bangladeshi peacekeepers excel in the line of duty

Mohammad Al-Masum Molla, from Democratic Republic of Congo
Major Hossain Mohammad Maruf of the Bangladesh Army had to leave for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Bangladesh contingent with the UN peacekeeping mission only 17 days after his first child was born.
“It was tough for me but such is the life of a soldier. Living to keep others safe and in peace is what we do. At the end of the day. I'm happy that I am being of some service to mankind," said Major Maruf at his field station in Bunia, under Ituri province of DRC.
It was a long, tiresome 6,915 km flight, back in February, when Major Maruf and his flight-mates were sent to the Zghou area of Ituri - only a few hours after they had landed in DRC to help pacify a raging civil war between two rival, armed ethnic groups.
They spent the next 14 days under just a tarpaulin. "I had no contact with my family back home for two weeks. I
couldn't stop thinking about my newborn son. But we were taught to control our emotions while on duty," he said.
When they are not on field duty in the conflict zones, they live in humble military camps - small huts, which only have a small bed and a mosquito net inside,
and there are common toilets.
The first thing many of them do after returning from a mission in a remote area in DRC is get busy with their smartphones, trying to connect with their families through social media in a place where internet is
almost a luxury.
One of their favourite pastimes when not on duty is growing vegetables and flowers in the yard of their camp. The vegetables satiate the craving for a touch of home, in the form of desi dishes on the dinner table.
“Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been doing a great job. They have set up makeshift camps in some of the more conflict-prone areas. They are fearless and thanks to them, we feel a sense of security amid all the unrest," said Cecilia Piazza, head of office, MONSCU in Bunia.
She also mentioned that the Bangladesh army personnel are actively involved with the local authorities as well, bringing communities together for the sake of sustainable peace and stability.
A typical day of a Bangladesh army personnel stationed in DRC begins at 4:00am with a field operation in some remote area. Despite being on official rotational duty, on most days it becomes hard to follow the roster, especially when they are on patrolling duty.
"Like government officials, there are no fixed working hours for an army man. On most of the days, we don't get any time to rest. Often, we have to be on duty for 24 hours," said Corporal Harun-or-Rashid, 31, from the Blukua Static Combat Deployment in Bunia.
"This is a very risky job. There is death waiting around every corner. Anything can happen at any time," said Md Monirul Islam, a solider of the Bangladesh Army stationed at the Abeda camp.
Lt Col Md. Abul Kalam Sumsuddin Rana was a peacekeeper in Goma of North Kivu in 2014 and isnow visiting thepeacekeepingmissions.
"When I was here as an observer in 2014, there were just two battalions and a handful of camps in Eturo brigade. Their job was to conduct routine patrol and escort international delegates and UN officials. That was a less challenging job compared to what they are doing now," Lt Col Rana said.
He also mentioned that the mission mandate has changed based on the concept of "protection through projection", and
hence the Bangladesh Rapid Deployment Battalion (BANRDB) was formed.
Under this concept, the BANRDB has set up makeshift camps in the more sensitive areas where situation often worsens quickly due to conflict between armed ethnic groups Hema and Lendu.
“The makeshift camps do not have any administrative support and all of them are located in the remote areas. But no matter what, the Bangladeshi peacekeepers have significantly succeeded in maintaining peace with professionalism and commitment, " said Lt Col Rana.
He added, "I feel proud as a former peacekeeper from Bangladesh. The UN recognises their contribution in DRC. Through their work, they are also earning love and respect from the local communities."
A total of 142 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have died while on duty in the missions since it began operating in various countries across the world.
Two groups of Bangladeshi journalists are visiting some of these African countries in the second and third week of May as part of commemorating 30 years anniversary of Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers.