Bangladesh has decided not to deploy peacekeepers to Haiti for the proposed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) mission amid global turmoil and shifting geopolitical dynamics, officials and internal correspondence confirmed.
An initial plan had outlined a contingent of 1,625 personnel, 1,100 from the armed forces and 525 from the police, for deployment beginning next month.
But Dhaka has informed the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that, given the war in the Middle East, it will not proceed for now, a foreign ministry official told The Daily Star yesterday.
The decision comes as US‑Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks have widened conflict across the Gulf, raising global security concerns.
Documents seen by this correspondent show Bangladesh had earlier expressed willingness to join the GSF, a multinational mission intended to help Haitian authorities combat armed gangs and restore stability.
An email dated February 13, 2026, sent by Brig Gen Mohammad Golam Rabbani, military and police adviser at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, circulated a communication regarding the Standing Group of Partners (SGP) decision on the proposed deployment.
The forwarded message contained a response from Madeline Diorio, stabilization officer at the US Department of State, acknowledging Bangladesh’s correspondence accepting the stated deployment of the GSF.
“The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) looks forward to working together to ensure a timely deployment,” Diorio wrote, noting that the SGP is working with the Government of Haiti and the UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to transmit pledge acceptances and initiate the Status of Personnel Agreement (SPA) process and other preparatory steps.
However, the communication clarified that countries listed as alternate contingents are not being requested to prepare for deployment at this stage.
It added that if the primary country selected to fulfil the mission requirements fails to do so, Bangladesh’s pledge could then be accepted, and preparations for deployment would begin.
SCHEDULE TO DEPLOY FROM APRIL
This correspondent obtained a copy of a letter, prepared on January 28 by the armed forces division, outlining the potential deployment structure sought by the US Embassy in Dhaka as part of the preparation process.
According to the document, the proposed Bangladesh Army contribution included three engineer companies, totalling 420 personnel, comprising one combat engineer company with an explosive ordnance disposal platoon and two multi-role construction companies.
The plan also included two multi-role logistics companies with 280 personnel, one military intelligence company with 125 personnel, and one signal company with 75 personnel.
In addition, the proposal considered the deployment of two small maritime detachments from the Bangladesh Navy, involving 200 personnel and 12 small boats.
For law enforcement support, the plan included three police companies under a Formed Police Unit, with 175 personnel in each company, totalling 525 police members.
The document noted that the first police company could potentially deploy in April, followed by another in May, while the third company would not be deployable for an additional six to eight months.
It also mentioned that one Bangladesh Army military police company could be ready to deploy in April, while the possibility of deploying three military police companies in May could be considered if required.
However, officials said Bangladesh has now decided not to proceed with deployment at this time in view of the prevailing global circumstances.
Contacted, a high official at the Police Headquarters, requesting anonymity, told The Daily Star police authorities have, in the meantime, completed necessary preparation and training for the deployment of 525 police members for the mission.
