A special UN aircraft, carrying the bodies, landed at Zia International Airport at about 2:45 pm. Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan received the bodies at the airport.

A pall of gloom descended at the tarmac of the VVIP terminal with wailing by wives, parents and other relatives of the killed peacekeepers when their bodies were brought down from the aircraft.

The foreign minister placed wreaths at the coffins. The chiefs of the three services were beside him.

Senior officers of the army, navy and air force, relatives of the deceased, UNDP Country Representative Renata Lok Dessallien and officials of the foreign ministry were present.

A guard of honour was given by a contingent drawn from the three services and the last post was played on bugle.

Later, the foreign minister met the relatives of the deceased and consoled them.

Those killed in the tragic accident are Lance Corporal SM Miraz Ahmed (20 Field Regiment Artillery), Lance Corporal M Abdus Sattar (6 Field Regiment Artillery), soldier Abdul Halim (27 Field Regiment Artillery), soldier Mohammad Kamruzzaman Khan (36 Air Defence Regiment Artillery), soldier M Mizanur Rahman (24 Field Regiment Artillery) and soldier Shahid Mia (32 Field Regiment Artillery).

The six peacekeepers were killed and 12 others injured in the road accident at Tiasali on way to Abidjan from Yamoussoukro in Ivory Coast.

The bodies have been kept at the CMH mortuary. Namaj-e-janaza of the peacekeepers will be held at Banani Army Stadium at 8:00am today. After janaza, the bodies of the peacekeepers will be sent to their village homes for burial.

Hasina Begum, wife of soldier Kamaruzzama, was sobbing with her two-year-old baby who is suffering from heart ailment. Talking to the reporters, she said her husband wanted to treat their baby with the money he would earn from the peacekeeping assignment.

"I don't know where I will go, how do I live, what will happen to my kid," said Hasina.

Hasna Hena, wife of soldier Abdul Halim, was wailing thinking about the uncertain future after losing her husband. She has two sons --four-month-old Sakib and three-year-old Hasib. Hasna, who passed the HSC examination, wants a job to earn her livelihood and maintain her two children.

The foreign minister assured them that the government would do whatever is possible to mitigate their distress.

UN COMPENSATION
The family of each of the six peacekeepers will receive $50,000 in compensation from the United Nations (UN).

Talking to the reporters at the airport, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said apart from the compensation from the UN, the families of the deceased will get all financial benefits from the army as per rules.

"The entire nation is shocked at the tragic death of six Bangladeshi heroes," Morshed said.

"The UN offers its deepest condolence to Bangladesh and the families of those killed in the accident in Ivory Coast," the UNDP country representative told reporters at the airport.

More than 11,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are serving in 51 peacekeeping missions in 12 countries across the globe. In Ivory Coast, around 3,500 Bangladeshi troops are engaged in peacekeeping.