The United Nations has ordered Bangladesh’s last remaining police contingent to withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials from both the UN and Bangladesh Police confirmed.
The move has sparked concern over Bangladesh Police’s decades-long contribution and its future participation in global peacekeeping operations.
The 180-member contingent—including 70 female officers—is expected to return home by November. Only two months ago, an all-female police unit, the UN’s only one of its kind, was deployed as part of this group.
Documents obtained by The Business Standard show that the UN plans to gradually reduce and repatriate personnel from its missions in Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Bangladesh, however, is the only country ordered to withdraw its entire contingent, while nations such as Cameroon, Senegal, and Egypt will face only partial reductions.
An Additional Deputy Inspector General at Police Headquarters confirmed that the withdrawal order follows UN budget cuts and a broader staff reduction policy.
> “The Police Commissioner of the UN Mission in Congo has verbally informed our unit commander of the decision, though no official letter has been received yet. Bangladesh’s FPUs have always performed well, so this decision is quite disappointing,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media) Shahadat Hossain declined to comment on the matter.
A former Additional Superintendent of Police who served in a UN mission said the decision exposes Bangladesh’s diplomatic weakness.
One officer said, “Usually, UN downsizing affects all countries partially. But this time, the entire Bangladesh unit has been asked to return. This is disappointing for both the police and the nation. The government should have engaged in diplomatic dialogue with the UN.”
Sources said 162 members will return by 20 October, while the remaining 18 officers will complete administrative and logistical tasks before returning by mid-November.
The current contingent arrived in Congo in August and began operations on 10 September. The UN’s withdrawal directive came barely a month later.
Bangladesh’s female Formed Police Units (FPU) have served in the Congo mission since 2005. In August 2025, their medal parade ceremony—attended by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Congo—was seen as a rare recognition of their performance.
At least ten officers described the order as a major setback to Bangladesh’s long-standing peacekeeping legacy.
“For more than three decades, this unit has brought respect and honor to Bangladesh. If it is disbanded due to government inaction, it will be a serious blow.”
A senior female officer added,
> “Due to inactive diplomacy, our police have become sidelined and unable to influence UN decisions. The female FPU’s contribution is not just a police success—it represents national pride. The government must take immediate action.”
Since joining UN peacekeeping operations in 1989 with its first mission in Namibia, more than 21,000 Bangladeshi police officers have served across 26 missions in 24 countries, including the DRC, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
