Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned home on Friday (August 14) following a five-day official visit to UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Abyei.
During his visit, the Army Chief inspected the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
General Waker-Uz-Zaman visited the Bangladesh Army Engineer Company, Infantry Battalion, and the Bangladesh Navy Force Marine Unit deployed in South Sudan, as well as the Bangladesh Army Infantry Battalion stationed in Abyei. He also interacted with Bangladeshi staff officers, military observers, and contingent members deployed in UNMISS and UNISFA, receiving briefings on their operations and the overall situation in the mission areas.
Addressing the Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the Army Chief directed them to execute their duties with the highest level of vigilance, professionalism, discipline, and dedication.
During the tour, General Waker-Uz-Zaman held separate meetings with UNMISS Force Commander Major General Junhui Yu and UNISFA Force Commander Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha. He also met with the Abyei Mission Leadership Team as well as national monitors from Sudan and South Sudan to discuss operational activities, the security situation, and various field challenges.
In addition, the Army Chief paid courtesy calls on South Sudan's Minister of Defence Chol Thon Balok and Chief of Defence Forces General Santino Deng Wol. Upon his arrival at the defense headquarters, General Waker-Uz-Zaman was presented with a guard of honor by the South Sudan Defence Forces.
It is expected that the Army Chief's visit will boost the morale of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Bangladesh, the UN, and host nations, and contribute to expanding Bangladesh's future participation in global peacekeeping operations.
