TDS Desk:

Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in Democratic Republic of Congo are safe amid the ongoing conflict there, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.

“All Bangladeshi peacekeepers in DR Congo are safe and communication with them remains uninterrupted amid the ongoing conflict,” said an ISPR press release.

Bangladesh has been actively participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions for decades, with a significant presence in DR Congo, contributing to global peace and security efforts.

Fighting has escalated sharply in recent weeks in eastern Congo, where rebels have seized key towns and are closing in on the city of Goma, the government’s last stronghold in the region bordering Rwanda.

The offensive by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has stretched local hospitals to the limit, with hundreds of wounded coming in every day as civilians get caught in the crossfire.

Thousands have been displaced, exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis and prompting fears of an all-out regional war.