By Wing Commander Munim Khan Majlish
Armed Forces’ Day Supplement Daily Star, The Bangladesh Observer 21 Nov 2014

1. “Hello dear! What’s up? Where are you heading for”? “Sir, we are going towards Kisangani, and you”? “Oh! I will have a long route today; I will finally land at Kigali via Entebbe and Kinshasa; hope to see you day after tomorrow while returning”. “Sir, we are also here just north of your track, heading for Dungu”. “Wow! How lucky you are, traveling all over this vast airspace; but we are just stationed in the Control Towers either at Bunia or Dungu airports”. “Don’t worry dear; I will be at your place on weekend after returning from Kigali”. It’s really amazing to follow such pleasant conversations of Bangladeshi aviators loitering in the blue airspace all over the Eastern and Central African region with their esteemed national careers inscribing both green and red ensign and UNO monogram; and certainly glorifying the image of their proud nation-Bangladesh.

2. It was a pretty long journey by UNO chartered Boing-747 aircraft from Dhaka to Entebbe Airport of Uganda via Eden of Yemen for refueling. I was only recollecting my past memories of uncertainty during my earlier deployment at Uganda in 2003. I had to refresh my perception about the UNO air operations scenario at Africa. This instant, I was overwhelmed to witness so many footsteps of Bangladeshi air warriors at Entebbe Airport right after disembarking from the aircraft. I had to arrange my own accommodation on the grassy ground at the transit areas at Entebbe during my earlier assignment at DR Congo in 2003 before availing schedule flight for Bunia by mainly South African C-130 aircraft. This time we were immediately ushered by our own aviators ready to transport us from Uganda to DR Congo by Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) C-130 Hercules. It was definitely a gratifying and enchanting event for all of us to take a trip by our own aircraft at African soil along with other peacekeepers of numerous nationalities.

3. Abundance of mineral resources like uranium, diamond, gold, coltine, petroleum, timber etc could not ensure prosperity and stability for the people of DR Congo; rather attracted many foreign invaders who had successfully exploited the sociopolitical instability and extracted precious resources. The outcome was prolonged civil war, violence, killing of civilian community, abuse of women and children, and internal migration of massive population across the region. The world community had responded to enforce peace in this war affected region under UN mandate. BAF had been participating in the UN effort to enforce peace in DR Congo since 2003 with contingents of Airfield Services Unit, and Utility Aviation Units. UN had reiterated esteem professionalism displayed by the valiant personnel of BAF by extending the assigned areas and responsibilities of BAF contingents and added another Aviation Unit of BAF with C-130 transport aircraft since 2010.

4. “Hi Carlos! How is everything at Brazil? Are you enough prepared to deal with Messi this time? I am sure your Samba girls are excitedly waiting to celebrate the grand event”. Bangladeshi aviation security staff inquires about well being of UN personnel at arrival lounge of Bunia Airport. With a cheerful frame of mind all the passengers are then directed towards the ‘Movement Control Desk’ for check-in for availing UN flight to their respective destinations; where Bangladeshi jolly agents complete their formalities with utmost professionalism and usher them to the aircraft. People from MONUC, UN agencies, NGOs, UN national staff or delegates from different sectors become amazed by witnessing the excellent ground handling services of BAF engineering staff at the apron before embarking the BAF Hercules or helicopters. Ever vigilance presence of BAF rescue and fire fighting crew earns admiration from the aviators due to their commitment and quick response. When Bangladeshi elegant steward secures all passengers, experience pilots of BAF offer them one of the pleasant voyages to their desired numerous destinations following challenging terrain and aerial routes. It is not only the BAF aviators operating at UN, but also various pilots of other UN flights, or flights of European Unions, NGOs, Congo national carriers, or private airlines; and so many non-schedule flights of different agencies are contended to experience the esteem professionalism of BAF aero meteorologists, or the air traffic controllers at Control Tower. All these element of Bangladesh Airfield Services Unit (BANASU) have truly created a mini Bangladesh like ambiance at two most strategically important airports in DR Congo named Bunia and Dungu hoisting red and green standard all over.

5. The eastern region of DR Congo where emergency situation is being prevailing is thousands of kilometers apart from the capital city Kinshasa. All connection to the outside world of this war affected region is therefore through Bunia Airport. It is indeed the hub of all UN operations from DR Congo. Personnel and logistics are being received and then transported to different locations through this unique point. BANASU had been keeping the lifeline sustainable by providing all necessary services from this airport. BANASU is the pioneer organization to commence operation from Bunia since initial deployment in 2003. After taking over from French led International Emergency Multinational Force, BANASU had persistently worked for setting up necessary infrastructures, provided adequate ground organizations and formulated viable plans and procedures for conducting operations efficiently from Bunia. It is manifested by the approval of Congo Civil Aviation Authority as being the only airport in DR Congo entirely run by MONUSCO alone. More and more agencies thereafter trusted the air traffic management by BANASU and increasingly expanding their operations from Bunia.

6. The strategic scenario of DR Congo specially its northern territory has been redesigned due to recent political development at South Sudan. UN had constructed a new airfield in the jungle of northern Congo at Dungu to obtain reach to this part of Africa. It enabled UN to carry out its assigned tasks to bring peace and stability in the region. It was again BANASU who were assigned for deploying at Dungu Airport by providing all essential airports services since its inauguration in August 2010. Functioning of Dungu Airport by BANASU had thereby enabled UN to deploy troops and military hardware at different isolated locations and enforce peace in this vulnerable terrain. Presence of BAF air traffic controller at Dungu airport did not only enabled UN aircraft and helicopters to operate safely and efficiently, but also greatly offered different agencies to activate a private airport in the adjacent area for bringing stability in the region.

7. When people of DR Congo, particularly its eastern territory of Ituri province was viciously affected by extended civil war; and citizens of land of immense opportunity had been inexorably suffering due to massive violence and atrocities caused by faction rebel groups, helicopters of Bangladesh Utility Aviation Unit (BANUAU) became the lifeline of thousands of peacekeepers who were struggling to enforce peace and stability while operating from inaccessible and chaotic locations. BANUAU with initially five MI-17 helicopter since 15 August 2003 were not only extensively utilized for deploying troops and combat logistics among the posts situated in the conflict zone, but also was the only means to provide food and scarce water for the gallant peacekeepers. Later on BANUAU had added one more helicopter to support its extended requirements in a wider horizon. At present BANUAU is operating at two different regions of Bunia and Dungu with three helicopters each to fulfill the growing necessity of UN at DR Congo. A brand name of “confidence and a vanguard of peace”, BANUAU had been proudly conducting in DR Congo flying more than 16000 hours since its deployment.

8. Former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Ms Patricia A Butenis had been appreciating the participation of BAF C-130 aircraft to support Tsunami affected people of Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2004 in a closing ceremony of US-Bangladesh joint exercise at Dhaka. She stated that US had provided twelve C-130 Hercules aircraft to Philippines; but handed over only four such transport aircraft to Bangladesh. She gladly reiterated the contribution of BAF by referring that BAF had rendered two of its four C-130, while Philippines had been facing difficulties to provide even one of their numerically superior contingents for humanitarian assistance mission at Maldives and Sri Lanka. BAF had once again proved its worthiness by providing one C-130 transport aircraft to UN since 25 June 2010 to strengthen air lifting capability of UN. Bangladesh attained the rare distinction of providing wide bodied aircraft to UN as strategic asset. It is only a few other nations like Belgium and South Africa who are at present providing sustained operations by multifaceted aircraft. BAF C-130 mainly operates from Bunia Airport, but its horizon is extended across DR Congo to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya for conducting various air operations.

9. When the Force Commander expresses his appreciation to BANUAU for successfully conducting one of the most challenging missions inside rebel controlled territory, or the Chief of Air Operations warmly felicitates the contribution of BANASU for keeping important airports operational, or the Guatemala Special Force Commander sincerely pay respect to Bangladeshi aircrew for accomplishing their task in inaccessible terrain condition, or pilot of US caravan personally brings cake prepared by his wife for the air traffic controller; any patriotic citizen of motherland can proudly imagine the triumph of Bangladeshi valiant air warriors in enforcing peace in the blue airspace of Africa.