Abidjan, 21 July 2009...The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), regrets to announce the death of a Bangladeshi member of the UN police (UNPOL), serving with the Special Forces Unit. Sergeant Showkat Ali died on Monday 21 July after falling ill.

Sergeant Showkat Ali arrived in Côte d'Ivoire on 6 November 2008, to serve with BANFPU-1 deployed in Boundiali, 731 km from Abidjan. He was 48-years-old, married with two children.
Complaining of severe chest pains, he was initially transferred to the Level 1 Hospital in Korhogo before being evacuated to Bouaké where he died.

His death brings to seven the number of police officers who have died while serving with UNOCI since the Mission was deployed in April 2004.
UNOCI sends its deepest condolences to the Bangladeshi Government and the family of the deceased.