Bangladesh Police’s final United Nations peacekeeping unit has been ordered to return from the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking an abrupt end to the force’s decades-long presence in global missions.
The 180-member Formed Police Unit, including 70 women, was instructed to withdraw by mid-November due to UN budget cuts and mission downsizing. A UN document shows Bangladesh is the only country facing full repatriation, while nations like Cameroon and Senegal will see only partial reductions.
The decision affects the UN’s only all-female police unit, deployed just two months ago. Officers called the move a diplomatic setback and urged stronger government engagement.
Since 1989, more than 21,000 Bangladeshi officers have served in 26 missions across 24 countries. The withdrawal, many said, undermines Bangladesh’s long-standing role as one of the world’s top peacekeeping contributors and erases a source of national pride.