A human trafficking racket promising construction jobs in Russia has trapped dozens of Bangladeshi youths, thrusting them directly onto the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war. Victims were charged approximately BDT 10 lakh each under the guise of legitimate overseas employment. Upon arrival, their passports and mobile phones were confiscated before they were handed over to the Russian military. Following a mere three weeks of basic military training, these men were deployed to active combat zones.
Investigations by the Special Response Battalion (SRB) revealed that a total of 30 Bangladeshi nationals were sent to Russia on 7 May through three agencies: Jabal-e-Noor, RS International, and TS Group. Intelligence gathered by the SRB suggests that these recruits were effectively deployed as human decoys to draw enemy fire. By exposing them to drone strikes, military operators were able to pinpoint opposing positions and measure strike distances.
Of the 30 individuals identified in the intelligence report, 20 are confirmed dead. Two survivors have returned home with severe injuries, whilst another two remain hospitalised in Moscow. The whereabouts of the remaining six individuals remain unknown. Among those missing are three young men from Gopalpur Upazila in Tangail district: Aminul Islam from South Pathalia village, Pabitra Chandra from Majidpur, and Nazrul Islam from Bir Nalhara.
The families left behind in Gopalpur are grappling with acute financial distress and emotional turmoil. Asma, the wife of missing Nazrul Islam, financed her husband’s journey through microfinance loans and personal borrowings. Having received no communication from him for four months, she faces sole responsibility for raising their young children amidst mounting debt. She has appealed to the government for official confirmation regarding his fate, demanding the repatriation of his body if he has perished, alongside swift prosecution of the fraudulent agencies involved.
Similarly, Paresh Chandra Sutradhar, the father of Pabitra Chandra, described the agony of unverified reports surrounding his son’s death circulating through informal channels. As the sole earning member of the household, Pabitra’s absence has placed his dependents in severe jeopardy.
Uncertainty deepened recently following the leakage of an unverified audio recording on social media. In the recording, an individual identifying himself as Arman from Jamalpur claimed that several Bangladeshi recruits had been killed in combat while others were being held and subjected to torture.
The Officer-in-Charge of Gopalpur Police Station, Ruhul Amin, stated that the authorities had not yet received formal complaints from the affected families, assuring that prompt legal action would follow once formal allegations are lodged. Meanwhile, the distressed relatives continue to urge immediate diplomatic and governmental intervention to determine the fate of their loved ones.
