Haiti - FLASH : The vanguard of the Bangladesh army on its way to Haiti
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) directorate of Bangladesh has confirmed that an advance team of 50 military personnel, drawn from five Bangladesh Army contingents, departed from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka (the capital) on Thursday, October 15, 2026, bound for Haiti to join the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
For security reasons, the authorities have not disclosed the exact date and time of their landing. However, it should be noted that a military or troop-transport flight from South Asia to the Caribbean, which typically includes technical stops for refueling, generally takes between 24 and 48 hours. Consequently, their arrival at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince is expected between Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The immediate mission of these 50 soldiers is to prepare the ground and coordinate logistics ahead of the arrival of the main body of Bangladeshi troops—approximately 1,600 police and military personnel—who are expected to arrive between mid-October and the end of November.
Prior to their departure, the Chief of General Staff of the Bangladesh Army, Lieutenant General Mohammad Mainur Rahman, met with the personnel at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka. During the meeting, he issued instructions emphasizing the need for professionalism, discipline, and vigilance, and stressed the importance of maintaining security while carrying out their duties within the operational zone.
