Bangladesh Navy contingent departs Chattogram for UN mission in Lebanon

A fresh Bangladesh Navy contingent left Chattogram today (26 November) to join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), continuing the navy's 15-year involvement in the peacekeeping mission.

Eighty-five sailors departed Shah Amanat International Airport on a special flight in the morning. They will join BNS Sangram, deployed under Bangladesh Contingent BANCON-16, according to a press release.

Captain M Ashraful Alam, chief staff officer of the commander in Chattogram Naval Area, formally sent off the team at the airport. Senior navy officials were also present at the scene.

This is the second group heading to Lebanon this month. Earlier on 19 November, another 25-member group led by Captain Fahid Abdullah left Dhaka on a commercial flight. BANCON-15, made up of 110 sailors currently serving in Lebanon, is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on 27 November.

Before deployment, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa briefed the outgoing members, calling on them to uphold integrity, discipline and professionalism while representing Bangladesh on the international stage.

Bangladesh Navy ships have been part of UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force since 2010, the only naval force from South Asia serving in the Mediterranean mission. BNS Sangram is currently tasked with preventing illegal arms and ammunition from entering Lebanese territory, monitoring suspicious vessels and aircraft, conducting maritime interdiction operations, providing search and rescue assistance, and offering training to Lebanese military personnel. The ship also regularly provides medical support to Bangladeshi expatriates living in Lebanon.

For more than 15 years, Bangladeshi sailors have earned recognition for their commitment and operational skill in the mission, strengthening the country's profile in global peacekeeping.