LAKSHMIPUR, Bangladesh — The Pak Global Pakistan
Dozens of Bangladeshi men seeking overseas employment were allegedly deceived into joining Russia’s military and forced onto the front lines of the Ukraine war, according to testimonies from survivors and families of the missing.
An investigation reveals that labor agents promised civilian jobs such as janitors, electricians, chefs, and cleaners in Russia, offering attractive salaries and long-term residency prospects. Instead, workers were compelled to sign Russian-language contracts that turned out to be military enlistment papers, often without their understanding or consent.
One survivor, Maksudur Rahman from Lakshmipur, said he arrived in Moscow in late 2024 believing he would work as a cleaner. Within days, he was transported to a military camp, issued weapons, and trained for combat operations, including drone warfare and battlefield evacuation.
“When we protested, they told us we had been sold,” Rahman said, adding that refusal to fight resulted in beatings, threats of imprisonment, and denial of food.
Several Bangladeshi men described being used as front-line manpower — ordered to advance ahead of Russian troops, carry heavy supplies, retrieve bodies, and evacuate wounded soldiers under drone attacks. Many reported that Russian forces stayed behind while foreign recruits were pushed forward.
Families of missing workers say communication abruptly stopped after their relatives were deployed to combat zones. Some later learned through unofficial channels that their loved ones were killed in drone strikes or artillery attacks.
Human rights groups and Bangladeshi investigators believe trafficking networks involving local recruiters and foreign intermediaries played a key role in funneling workers into Russia. Police in Bangladesh have launched investigations and charged at least one middleman with human trafficking, while estimates suggest dozens of Bangladeshi nationals may have died in the conflict.
Rights advocates warn that economic hardship and lack of jobs continue to make migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation, urging stricter oversight of overseas recruitment and stronger diplomatic action to protect citizens abroad.
“I don’t want money,” said the wife of one missing worker. “I just want my children’s father to come home.”