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Bangladeshis lured to Russia with job offers sent to war
Around 20 reportedly killed in Ukraine war as SRB arrests two ‘traffickers’
Around 20 of 30 Bangladeshis who travelled to Russia on construction-job promises have reportedly been killed after being handed to the military and sent to fight in Ukraine, the Special Response Battalion (SRB) said, as it arrested two alleged traffickers on Wednesday.
Yet worker departures for Russia continue to rise, with the government admitting it has no data on how many Bangladeshis have been drawn into the war.
SRB-10 Battalion Commander Additional DIG Md Asaduzzaman disclosed the arrests at a press conference at Karwan Bazar in the capital.
The detainees are Mizanur Rahman, 55, the alleged ringleader, and Md Abu Taher Lentu, 50.
How the group was recruited
According to the SRB, the 30 men left on 7 May through three companies: Jabal-e-Noor, RS International and TS Group. Each paid an average of around Tk10 lakh on the promise of jobs with construction firms.
On arrival, they were instead handed over to the Russian military. After 21 days of training, they were sent to the battlefield, the SRB said.
Rising departures
From January to 13 October this year, 3,044 workers went to Russia, bringing the total since the war began on 24 February 2022 to 9,201.
The record of 4,727 was set in 2025. Officials of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) said this year’s figure would exceed it if the present rate continued.
The government cannot say how many of these workers have joined the fighting. Officials said they had sought the information from Russia’s Foreign Ministry without success.
Mizanur Rahman, first secretary at the Bangladesh Embassy in Russia, said it was impossible to give a figure.
“We have learned through various sources that around a thousand Bangladeshis may be involved. However, we do not think the actual number is that high,” he said.
He said Russia had advertised for recruits at railway stations, bus terminals and other public places since the war began. Those agreeing to fight are offered signing bonuses of Tk10 lakh to Tk25 lakh, monthly salaries of Tk2 lakh to Tk4 lakh, and Russian citizenship, he said.
“Lured by these incentives, many Bangladeshis travel to Russia for work but eventually become involved in the war,” he added.
Bangladeshis living in Russia said many had joined the fighting early in the war believing Moscow would win quickly. The rising death toll has reduced those numbers somewhat, they said, but recruitment has not stopped. Accounts from the ground
Al-Amin, from Patgram in Lalmonirhat, travelled with the group of 30 on a construction visa, hoping to improve his family’s finances.
He told this correspondent on Wednesday that, after training, he had been posted since 10 June at a camp about five kilometres from the frontline, supplying food and ammunition to Russian soldiers.
“I have not gone to the frontline. But here, survival is a matter of fate,” he said. “Ukraine launches drone attacks constantly. Drones strike the rooms where we stay. There are drones above us and landmines below.”
He said he had initially located seven members of his group, but contact with the rest had been lost. Two men who went to the frontline had not returned, and he did not know whether they were dead or in hospital. Four others were at another camp, he said, while he was staying with Roni Sheikh of Gopalganj.
Taslim Molla, whose brother Sourav Molla of Gopalganj was also in the group, said the family had not sent him to fight.
“I sent him to work so he could improve our family’s financial condition. Now, he is risking his life every day,” he said, adding, “We have contacted the ministry and the embassy many times, but they are doing nothing to help us.”
Government and experts at odds
State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur told Stream that no one could be forced to go to war.
“Those travelling to Russia are doing so knowingly and accepting the conditions. If someone goes willingly, there is little we can do,” he said. “However, we never want our citizens to fight for another country or put themselves in danger.”
He said those who had gone appeared to be travelling from third countries rather than directly from Bangladesh, leaving the government no scope to intervene.
Migration sector stakeholders rejected that position. They said workers should not be solely blamed, as the government approves overseas employment, and alleged it had taken no effective measures or even run awareness campaigns on the dangers.
Migration expert Asif Munier said the government must accept responsibility.
“Workers are travelling to Russia with its approval, and they are ending up on the battlefield,” he said. “We are seeing the government trying to evade its own responsibility by blaming the workers. This is unjust and must stop.”