20 BD men trafficked to Russia killed in war 

At least 20 out of 30 Bangladeshis who travelled to Russia for promised construction jobs were killed after allegedly being forced into military service and deployed to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Special Response Battalion (SRB) said on Wednesday.

The victims were reportedly sent into combat after just 21 days of military training. Seventeen were killed in drone strikes on their first day on the battlefield, while three others died later, according to the SRB's preliminary investigation.

The SRB arrested two alleged key members of the trafficking network, Mizanur Rahman, 55, chairman of Jabal-e-Noor International, and Md Abu Taher, also known as Lentu, 50, in separate raids in Faridpur and Jhenaidah on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference at the SRB media centre in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar, SRB-10 Battalion Commander Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Asaduzzaman said the victims had travelled to Russia on May 7, paying an average of Tk 10 lakh each for promised construction jobs.

Upon arrival, their passports and mobile phones were allegedly confiscated before they were forced into military service and sent to active combat zones.

Two survivors have returned to Bangladesh, including 21-year-old Razan Hossain, who suffered a fractured pelvis and permanent paralysis of his lower body following a drone strike. He returned home on August 23 with assistance from the Bangladesh embassy.

Two other Bangladeshis are receiving treatment at hospitals in Russia, while six remain on the battlefield, the SRB said.

Investigators found that 21 of the victims had travelled through Jabal-e-Noor International. Other agencies and individuals, including RS International and TS Group, were also allegedly linked to the network.

The SRB has identified a Russian national named Igor and a Kyrgyz woman named Julia as alleged foreign links in the operation. Investigators are also searching for Mostafizur Rahman and other suspected members of the network.

Razan's father subsequently filed a human trafficking case with Kaliganj Police Station after the family allegedly received threats while seeking financial compensation, according to the investigation.

The SRB urged jobseekers to verify the credentials of overseas recruitment agencies and confirm the legitimacy of employment offers before making payments or travelling abroad.

Investigators are continuing efforts to identify other suspects and establish the full extent of the alleged trafficking network.