Dhaka (HRNW)— In a ceremony held at the residence of France’s Honorary Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Jean-Marc Serre Charlotte, Brigadier General Mohammad Azhar Islam, AFWC, PSC-K (Bangladesh Army, United Nations), was awarded the prestigious French National Defence Medal – Gold Level in recognition of his exceptional service in international peacekeeping operations. He is the first Bangladeshi to receive this distinguished honor.
Brigadier General Azhar served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Colonel rank) at the Force Headquarters of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) during 2022–2023. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating logistics and support operations for more than 13,000 peacekeepers from multiple countries.
In 2022, following the French military’s Operation Barkhane withdrawal from Mali to neighboring Niger and Chad, several northern camps were handed over to the UN mission. Under Brigadier General Azhar’s leadership, the logistics team successfully managed the complex and sensitive reorganization process, ensuring the safe departure of French contingents and smooth transfer of command to UN forces.
In 2023, when the decision was made to fully withdraw the UN peacekeeping mission from Mali, Brigadier General Azhar’s professionalism, integrity, and exceptional coordination enabled the safe and timely repatriation of all UN personnel and equipment within just six months — a remarkable achievement that drew praise from international partners.
Recognizing his outstanding leadership and contribution to global peace operations, the Government of France conferred upon him this high-level distinction.
Notably, Brigadier General Azhar is a veteran peacekeeper with prior missions in Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia, and most recently Mali, consistently demonstrating dedication, strategic foresight, and a commitment to humanitarian service.
Human Rights News Worldwide (HRNW) congratulates Brigadier General Azhar Islam on this historic achievement, reflecting Bangladesh’s growing global reputation in peacekeeping excellence.
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