The horrors of the Russia-Ukraine war are no longer confined to the geographical boundaries of the two countries. The grief and anguish of this conflict have now reached countless middle-class and lower-income families in Bangladesh, thousands of miles away. Lured by promises of lucrative jobs and trapped by human traffickers, ordinary Bangladeshi youths are losing their lives while fighting on the frontlines for Russia. Some return home permanently disabled, while others remain missing for months with no trace of their whereabouts. Recent investigative reports by both domestic and international media outlets have exposed a horrifying picture of human trafficking, revealing how job seekers are being deceived through recruitment agencies and dragged into Russia’s war, becoming trapped in a dark and uncertain existence.
Bangladesh has no direct political or military involvement in this geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Yet a group of Bangladeshi young men, searching for better opportunities, are now fighting for Russia from underground bunkers and snow-covered battlefields in a distant land. They are being sent to the frontlines, where death lurks every second. Amid the sounds of shelling, artillery fire, and constant surveillance by swarms of suicide drones, these Bangladeshis hide in trenches with no minimum guarantee of survival.
Investigations have revealed that a highly organized international human trafficking network is operating behind this illegal process. The primary weapon of these traffickers is “false promises.” They lure ordinary Bangladeshis to Russia by offering jobs as security guards in hospitals or well-paid positions in furniture factories. They entice them with promises of Russian citizenship, passports, and substantial monthly salaries. One victim, Mohon Mianji, stated that he was promised a safe technical role in electronic warfare but was eventually sent directly into combat. Although Mohon somehow managed to escape and return home, his companion Ashikur Rahman was blown apart and killed in a landmine explosion.
The condition of the families of these individuals is heartbreaking. Many families do not even know whether their loved ones are alive. Before going missing, Nazrul Islam of Rajbari told his wife that if he failed to contact her for fifteen days, she should assume that he was no longer alive. Nazrul ultimately lost his life on the battlefield. Meanwhile, a young man named Shahid Mostafa Tayin has been missing for four months. According to his sister, traffickers demanded 300,000 rubles under the pretext of relocating him to a safer place. Even after receiving the money, they failed to bring him back. The grief of losing her son caused Tayin’s elderly mother to suffer a brain stroke, leaving her bedridden.
Like the families of Nazrul and Iqbal, many others are now counting the days while waiting to identify the bodies of their loved ones.
According to reports by Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds, at least 34
Bangladeshi youths had lost their lives in this war by early 2026.
Furthermore, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
families of Bangladeshis who went missing or became victims of the
conflict in Russia submitted at least 37 applications over the past year
Videos sent from the battlefield contain tearful testimonies from victims, alleging fraud by certain agencies in Bangladesh. Investigative media reports have also named several institutions, including Beacon Tours, Jabale Noor, and Bonna Bijoy Overseas. These networks initially send individuals from Bangladesh to Dubai or other Middle Eastern countries on visit visas and subsequently transport them to Russia. Upon arrival in Russia, their passports are confiscated, and they are effectively blackmailed into signing one-year contracts with the Russian military. In exchange for these contracts, the Russian government provides substantial sign-up bonuses, but the majority of these payments are allegedly pocketed by traffickers. This network involves not only Bangladeshi operatives but also international criminals such as Deepak Debnath from West Bengal, India, and Rajendra Prasad Jesun of Tamil Nadu.
According to reports by Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds, at least 34 Bangladeshi youths had lost their lives in this war by early 2026. Furthermore, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, families of Bangladeshis who went missing or became victims of the conflict in Russia submitted at least 37 applications over the past year, and the deaths of several individuals have already been confirmed.
To prevent others from falling into this deadly trap, the government must take strict legal measures, strengthen border surveillance, and launch widespread public awareness campaigns. Before accepting any overseas job offer, it should be mandatory to verify the credibility of the recruiting organization through the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and the embassy of the destination country. Above all, people hope that the government will engage in diplomatic discussions with Russia to secure the swift rescue and repatriation of Bangladeshis who remain trapped there.
The writer is a banker
