STAR REPORT

At least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in an attack on a United Nations base in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan region, the Bangladesh Army said yesterday.

In a statement issued last night, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the attack took place in Abyei, a disputed border area between Sudan and South Sudan.

“The situation in the area remains unstable, and clashes with terrorists are ongoing,” the statement said, adding that authorities were doing their best to provide medical treatment and carry out rescue operations for the injured.

The ISPR did not provide further details about the incident as of 1:30am, when this report was filed.

AFP, quoting witnesses, reported that the casualties occurred when a drone struck the UN compound in the state capital, Kadugli.

“Six people were killed in a bombing of the UN headquarters while they were inside the building,” a medical source at the city’s hospital told the news agency.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the casualties and strongly condemned the attack.

In a statement last night, he said, “I am deeply saddened by the news that six of our brave peacekeepers have embraced martyrdom and eight others have been injured while carrying out the noble duty of establishing peace and stability.”

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