Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk:Wednesday’s mine explosion near Douentza in Mopti region of Mali put a tragic end to the lives of four Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured four others.
Air became heavy with grief as the death news of UN peacekeeper Jamal Uddin reached his family members at Ghaisapara village in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, reports our correspondent.
Jamal Uddin joined Bangladesh Army as a soldier in 2005. He married Fahima Akhtar Shilpi about seven years ago and they have a five and a half years-old son. He went to Mali as a member of UN peacekeeping force in May, 2017, said family members.
“I became speechless after an army officer informed me of my son’s death over mobile on Wednesday night. Later, I informed other family members,” said Jamal’s father Meser Ali, a cattle trader.
Jamal’s wife Shilpi said, “Jamal often told me that he wants to get his son admitted to a cadet college so that he could become an army officer. But the tragic death put an end to his dream.”
Our Pabna Correspondent reports: “Only a day ago, my father called me to say that he would return from his mission after two months but he is no more,” said Ishrat Jahan, six years old daughter of Md Rayhan, a solider of Bangladesh Army, who went to UN peacekeeping mission in Mali 10 months ago.
Journalists visited the deceased’s house at Somasnari village of Pabna’s Santhia upazila yesterday.
“I talked with my husband on Wednesday afternoon. He told me that he would come back to the country after two months. I could not believe my ears when I came to know of the tragic accident from TV news around 10:00pm on Wednesday,” said Rayhan’s wife Sohana Khatun.
“My brother was a dutiful soldier. The mine explosion has put a tragic end to his life. Our family lost an important member while the country lost a patriotic son,” said Atik Al Hasan, cousin of the victim.
Our Pirojpur Correspondent adds: Warrant Officer Abul Kalam Azad, one of the four Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a mine explosion near Douentza in Mopti region of Mali on Wednesday, hails from Uttar Kalardoaniya village under Kalardoaniya union of Nazirpur upazila in Pirojpur.
He was son of late Md Makbul Hossain.
His wife Khadiza Khatun is an assistant teacher of Mugarjhor Girls’ Dakhil Madrasa in Nazirpur.
They have a daughter and a son.
“Azad joined Bangladesh Army in September, 1992. On May 20 last year, he went to Mali as a UN peacekeeping force member. Within three months, he would go on retirement after returning from the peacekeeping mission,” said Shahidul Islam, cousin of the deceased.
“Realising the matter from the behaviour of other family members, his wife has broke down in tears,” Shahidul said, urging the government to bring back the body to his village and take special care for the bereaved family.
