On Saturday afternoon, 30-year-old corporal Masud Rana had told his wife that he would call again after a short rest before heading back to work.

But that conversation turned out to be their last.

Later in the evening, his family in Natore learnt that Masud was among six peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Army killed in a drone attack on a United Nations base in Sudan.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack was carried out by a separatist armed group between 3:40pm and 3:50pm (local time), while the peacekeepers were on duty at the base.

A pall of grief has since fallen over Boaliapara village in Natore's Lalpur upazila, where Masud's family lives.

His mother, Marjin Begum, broke down as she recalled speaking to her son just the day before. "I talked to him yesterday [Saturday]," she said, sobbing.

"When I asked about his duty, he said, 'Maa, you know it's not so difficult these days.' He told me to stay well. That was the last thing he said."

Masud's wife, Asmaul Husna Ankhi, was still stunned by the news.

"I just spoke to him yesterday [Saturday] afternoon. He said he would call me again after resting for half an hour before going on duty. I waited. That half hour never passed," she said in a daze.

Masud joined the army in 2006. His two brothers are also serving in the army. He left for Sudan on November 7 to join the UN peacekeeping mission, leaving behind his wife and their eight-year-old daughter.

His younger brother, Roni Alam, said the family was proud despite the overwhelming grief. "My brother is a martyr. We are proud of his sacrifice. But the pain cannot be expressed in words."

The ISPR said the six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in a drone attack on the Kadugli Logistics Base in Sudan's Abyei region on Saturday.

Last night, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to express his condolences over the tragic deaths.

"I am calling to express my deep deep condolences. I am devastated," Guterres told Yunus, according to a release from the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.

The UN chief expressed his solidarity with Bangladesh and requested the chief adviser to convey his condolences to the bereaved families.

Prof Yunus said he was also deeply saddened by the loss and urged the UN to facilitate the evacuation of the injured soldiers to top medical facilities, as well as to ensure the swift repatriation of the bodies.

The ISPR identified the other deceased as sainik Mominul Islam, from Kurigram; sainik Shamim Reza, from Rajbari; sainik Shanta Mondal, from Kurigram; mess waiter Jahangir Alam, from Kishoreganj; and laundry employee Sabuj Miya, from Gaibandha.

It was also a day of mourning in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj, where the family of Jahangir Alam, 30, is struggling to cope with the loss.

Jahangir was the son of Hazrat Ali, a farmer from Tarakandi village in Jangalia union. He joined the army on October 14, 2014, hoping to change the fate of his impoverished family. He also left for Sudan on November 7 to join the peacekeeping mission.

Family members said that Hazrat Ali received the news of his son's death shortly after midnight on Saturday from Jahangir's elder brother, who lives in Saudi Arabia. The next morning, an army officer confirmed the news over the phone.

Inside their small tin-roofed house, Jahangir's wife, Rubaiya Akhtar, was found inconsolable. Their three-year-old child looked on helplessly.

In Gaibandha's Palashbari upazila, the death of Sabuj Miya, 27, has cast a shadow over Chhoto Bhagabanpur village.

His mother, Sakina Begum, 65, broke down upon hearing the news as villagers gathered at their home.

His cousin Palash Miya said that Sabuj joined the army in 2010. He married in 2023 and was the sole earning member of the family, having lost his father in 2002.

He also went to Sudan on November 7 to join the peacekeeping mission.

"Our only demand is that Sabuj's body be brought back quickly and that the government stand by his family," Palash said.

Sabuj's wife, Nupur Akhtar, said she last spoke to her husband around 3:00pm on the day of the attack. "He told me to always be safe wherever I am. Now, he is the one who is gone," she said in disbelief.

Shamim Reza, 28, from Hogladangi village in Rajbari's Kalukhali upazila, was the eldest son of Alam Fakir and Champa Khatun. Among his siblings, one brother works in Saudi Arabia, another remains unemployed at home, and their only sister studies at a madrasa. He married Arifa Khatun about a year and a half ago.

He also left for Sudan on November 7.

Shamim's father, Alam Fakir, a farmer, said he had raised his son and ensured his education through much hardship.

"I last spoke to him on a video call on Friday. He told me, 'Abba, stay well. I'm going on duty.' Those were his last words. My son went on duty and never returned."

Shanto, 26, and Mominul, 38, were from Kurigram. Shanto's father, late Nur Islam Mondal, was a former army member.

Shanto joined the army in 2018 and was most recently posted at Bogura Cantonment. He left for Sudan on November 7.

His elder brother, Sohel Mondal, a lance corporal currently serving at Cumilla Cantonment, said Shanto had married a year ago, and his wife is five months pregnant.

"He spoke to us on a video call on Saturday evening. Later that night, we learnt he had been killed in the attack," he said.

Mominul is survived by his parents, wife, and two daughters. Family members said he left for Sudan 33 days ago and spoke to them for the last time on a video call on Saturday afternoon. "My son was a good man and loved by everyone," his father said.

The ISPR statement reads that the attack has left eight other peacekeepers injured, who are receiving necessary medical treatment.

The injured peacekeepers are Lt Col Khondaker Khalekuzzaman, Sergeant Md Mostakim Hossain, Corporal Afroza Parvin Eti, Lance Corporal Mohibul Islam, Sainik Md Mezbaul Kabir, Sainik Umme Hani Akter, Sainik Chumki Akter, and Sainik Md Manazir Ahsan.

Among the injured, Sainik Md Mezbaul Kabir underwent successful surgery after his condition was reported as critical. He is currently under close observation.

The remaining seven injured peacekeepers have been evacuated by helicopter for advanced treatment and are now out of danger, the statement said.

The Bangladesh Army strongly condemned what it described as a "brutal terrorist attack", saying that the sacrifice of the fallen peacekeepers would remain a proud testament to Bangladesh's commitment to global peace.

The army also expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Earlier, in a statement on May 28, the ISPR said that over the course of four decades of peacekeeping, Bangladeshi peacekeepers have successfully participated in 63 UN missions across 43 countries and regions around the world.

As of May this year, 5,818 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, including 444 women, are deployed in 10 UN missions and operations. With Saturday's casualties, a total of 174 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have laid down their lives in the line of duty to date.

[Our correspondents from Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Faridpur, and Kishoreganj contributed to this report.]