Abidjan 6 May 2009... The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi on Tuesday, 5 May 2009, presided over a short ceremony to pay tribute to a Bangladeshi peacekeeper who died on 24 April 2009 after suffering a heart attack. The ceremony was also attended by the Force Commander, General Fernand Marcel Amoussou and his Deputy, General Benjamin Kusi.

Lance Corporal Abdul Khaleque was serving with Bangladeshi battalion (BANBATT4) in Yamoussoukro when he died.

Speaking at the ceremony at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Sebroko, Abidjan, the Commander of BANBATT4, Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Shams-ul-Huda described the late soldier as a bold and fearless comrade who played an active role in the ongoing peace process.

Lance Coporal Khaleque was 37 and married with two sons. His body will be flown to Bangladesh for burial this week. He is the 36th peacekeeper to die while serving with UNOCI, since the Mission was deployed on 4 April 2004.

UNOCI sends it heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and the Bangladeshi Government.