Last UN peace contingent of Bangladesh Police set to return amid downsizing

Bangladesh Police's only remaining United Nations peacekeeping contingent has been asked to withdraw from the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about the future of the force's long-standing contribution to global peacekeeping.

The contingent consisting of 180 personnel, including 70 female officers, will return home by November. This contingent has the UN's only all-female police unit, which was deployed just two months ago.

The Business Standard has obtained a UN document showing planned downsizing and repatriations across UN missions in DR Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

The document shows Bangladesh is the only country facing full repatriation. Contingents from countries such as Cameroon, Senegal, and Egypt face only partial reductions.

Sources from the UN and Bangladesh Police said the downsizing is driven by the ongoing funding crisis affecting UN peacekeeping missions.

An additional deputy inspector general at Police Headquarters confirmed that Bangladesh's FPU has been asked to return by mid-November due to UN budget cuts and the organisation's downsizing policy. 

"The unit's commander was verbally informed by the UN Mission police commissioner in DR Congo. We haven't received official communication yet. Bangladesh's FPU has been performing well, making this decision particularly unfortunate," he said on condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh Police Headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Media) Shahadat Hossain declined to comment on the matter.

However, an additional superintendent of police, who served in a UN mission five years ago, told The Business Standard that the decision exposes Bangladesh's diplomatic shortcomings. 

"When the UN enforces downsizing, it usually affects all contributing countries. This time, the entire FPU of Bangladesh has been asked to return by November. It is frustrating news for the police and the nation. The government should've negotiated with the UN," he said.

Sources said 162 personnel will be repatriated by 20 October, with the remaining 18 completing administrative and logistical duties by mid-November. 

This current team, which arrived in August in Congo and became operational on 10 September, has served just one month before the UN ordered its return.

Bangladesh's female FPU has operated in Congo since 2005. In August, the female unit's medal parade was attended by Congo's Special Representative of the Secretary-General.

Sources said it was an uncommon gesture reflecting the UN's trust in the unit. 

At least ten officers told TBS that the withdrawal is a setback for decades of Bangladesh's contributions to UN peacekeeping. "This unit's participation has brought honour and pride to the country for over three decades. That it may end due to insufficient government action is a serious blow," one officer said.

A senior female officer added, "The absence of proactive measures has left our police fully cornered, unable to influence UN decision-making. Yet the women's FPU's role in peacekeeping is not just a police achievement; it is national pride, projecting Bangladesh positively on the world stage. It is high time the government acted decisively."

Bangladesh Police have been a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping missions since 1989, with personnel serving in numerous missions worldwide. The first deployment was in Namibia.

As of May 2025, over 21,000 officers have served in 26 missions in 24 countries, including the DR Congo, South Sudan, and Central Africa.