Three Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers were killed in an explosion during a battle with criminals in Mali yesterday, said Inter Services Public Relations.

The explosion also left four other Bangladeshi peacekeepers injured.

The deceased are Sergeant Altaf of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps in Dinajpur, Lance Corporal Zakirul of Artillery in Netrakona and soldier Monwar of East Bengal in Barisal, said the ISPR.

The injured are Maj Zahid, Corporal Mahim, soldiers Sabuj and Sarwar. They were taken to Gao city for better treatment.

According to an ISPR press release uploaded on their website, Bangladeshi peacekeepers were locked in clashes with criminals in the troubled-torn West African country on Saturday and fended off them successfully.

"While returning to the camp after discharging their duty, they [Bangladeshi peacekeepers] were ambushed by criminals again yesterday. Again they foiled their offensive successfully and courageously," read the release.

"At one stage of the fight, an improvised explosive device went off, leaving three peacekeepers dead and four wounded."

Director of the ISPR Lt Col Muhammad Rashidul Hasan said they were trying to collect details about the incident and the victim peacekeepers.

Some 1,418 Bangladeshis are now working in the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.