A promise kept in a land divided by war

I was part of Bangladesh's very first UN Peacekeeping mission. In 1988, the army selected 15 top officers to serve as observers during the Iran-Iraq War. I was a lieutenant colonel at the time and fortunate to be chosen.

Back then, we had no prior knowledge or experience of UN Peacekeeping. We landed in unfamiliar territory around August 15, just days before the ceasefire took effect on the 20th. I was assigned as assistant chief of staff at the mission headquarters. The official chief of staff, a Polish officer, didn't speak English, so I ended up handling much of the responsibility myself.

Countries like India and Nepal had more peacekeeping experience, and we were seen as newcomers. Trust didn't come easily—we had to work hard to prove ourselves. But soon, our performance spoke for itself. Our reputation grew, and Bangladesh was recognised as a dependable partner. Since then, we've been called to serve in every mission. We laid the foundation. 

How I became the Force Commander 

My second UN mission was in Sudan, a country torn by civil war since 1953. From 2004 to 2006, I served as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

Unlike earlier appointments, I was the first Force Commander selected through a competitive process. The UN moved away from relying solely on country nominations after realising that resumes didn't always reflect reality. I competed with five other generals at the UN headquarters in New York. The interview was intense—an hour of tough questioning—but my experience with the Bangladesh Army and in peacekeeping gave me confidence. I got the job in August 2004.

My main responsibility was managing security arrangements and troop redeployments for the peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M). I oversaw all military operations of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Sudan and was also in charge of security for all UN agencies operating in the country.

I led efforts in demining, prisoner exchanges, troop withdrawals from conflict zones, and restoring supply chains. Much of my work involved travelling to meet rebel leaders, often flying to neighbouring countries like Kenya, Chad, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic, where the rebels had established bases. It was a challenging but vital mission. 

Challenges on the ground 

The toughest part of the mission was negotiating with the rebels. Many lacked a clear structure, and some leaders would later claim they didn't understand the agreements they signed. We had to work hard to ensure both sides fully grasped the terms.

The SPLA/M was led by John Garang, widely seen as the founding father of South Sudan. When I first met him in Kenya, he appreciated my professionalism but raised a concern: "General Akbar, you seem like a nice guy, but you're a Muslim. How can we trust you won't side with Muslim Sudanese?"

I replied, "Your Excellency, in my faith, a promise is sacred. Fairness in negotiations is my moral and religious duty. If you ever find me biased, I'll leave this mission the very day. That's my word."

He was convinced. A peace agreement was signed in January 2005, ushering in a period of relative calm. I spent a lot of time speaking with rebel leaders, ensuring safe troop movements and building relationships, especially with Salva Kiir, Garang's successor and the current president of South Sudan. I also had strong ties with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, which helped me mediate political issues that even advisors struggled with.

My bond with Salva Kiir grew so strong that he later told Bangladesh's foreign minister, "I know Bangladesh through General Fazle Elahi. He is the face of Bangladesh to us."

One of my key initiatives was joint patrols involving both Sudanese and South Sudanese troops. This helped reduce tensions and build mutual trust, and the model was later adopted by other UN missions.

I was responsible for managing nearly 10,000 personnel, including 750 military observers, over 1,000 international civilian staff, more than 2,600 national staff, and over 200 UN Volunteers from 57 countries. It was a challenging job, but the shared sense of professionalism made success possible. 

Facing rebels, not backing down

A few days before I would come back to Bangladesh from the mission in Sudan, two of my officers from an observer team were abducted by the Eastern Kasala rebels. I called their leader and said, "Give me the coordinates, and I am coming to talk." My deputies were advising me not to go in person because of the associated security risks of going to an active warzone. But I was adamant. I managed the whole mission for two years, and I was determined to leave with my records exemplary. 

So, I went to the rebel stronghold by helicopter. I had my security details with me. The rebel army came with their pick-up trucks and jeeps. Some of those had anti-aircraft guns mounted on them, so some rebels might have the urge to fire at our helicopter when we were to leave. I had to do something to dissuade them. 

I recognised the model of the anti-aircraft guns; I operated them during my training in China. So, I went to one of the jeeps and pulled out the lever to check the gun. In Sudan, due to sand and heat, machines tend to get jammed often. And that gun was jammed. So, I told them how to keep them clean, thus asserting my influence over them. 

They were so impressed by me that they let my officers go. 

A fond memory from the days at the mission

One of the fondest memories of my mission that gave me satisfaction in South Sudan was the farewell party for me organised by the South Sudanese government in 2006. There, Salva Kiir said in his speech, "When you first came here, we were very sceptical about you for being a Muslim. We thought you would be just another Bin Laden. But you proved to be a true Muslim, and you kept your promise. You never deviated from your mandated task, and you never showed any partiality. So, I would like to present you with my pen, which I have used throughout the war, as a parting gift." 

He gave me a Montblanc pen. I was stunned, so I presented him with the British cane I used wherever I went. It made me feel content that I had carried out my duties properly. 

(This interview was conducted by Shadique Mahbub Islam from The Business Standard)

Major General (retired) Fazle Elahi Akbar was the first Bangladeshi Force Commander at the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Sudan. He carried out his duties from 2004 to 2006, overseeing the peace agreement between Sudan and South Sudan, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005. He was also one of the members of the first-ever Bangladeshi peacekeeping mission at the United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) from 1988 to 1989. He later became the Security Affairs Adviser to Begum Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, a position he still holds today.