Bangladeshis Forced into War in Russia Under Pretext of Employment

A group of Bangladeshi nationals has alleged that they were deceived and forcibly sent to fight in the war in Ukraine after being taken to Russia under the guise of construction work. At least two Bangladeshi workers, having sustained severe injuries from drone strikes on the front lines, are currently receiving treatment in two separate Russian hospitals. They have pleaded to be allowed to return home to their families.

It is reported that in May of this year, a group of at least 30 Bangladeshis traveled to Russia, hoping for a better life and employment in the construction sector. According to the victims and their relatives, upon arrival, they were not given the promised construction jobs; instead, they were taken to a military camp, provided with only a few days of training, and then deployed to the battlefield. A significant number of the group reportedly became casualties after coming under drone and artillery fire on the front lines.

Md. Ali Hasan Sohel, from Rajbari, has been hospitalized for over a month in the city of Penza—located approximately 700 kilometers from Moscow—with severe leg injuries. Sohel stated that those who refused to participate in the war were subjected to physical abuse. He explained that they were taken to the front lines under the pretext of guard duty, which was, in reality, a trap that left them exposed as targets for Ukrainian drones.

Another member of the same group, Palash Sheikh from Gopalganj, is currently undergoing treatment in a Moscow hospital; he lost an arm in a drone strike. The families of the injured workers have submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, seeking assistance for their safe return and financial support. The families are living in a state of extreme distress, burdened by debt and deep concern for their loved ones' futures.

Meanwhile, an official at the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow indicated that there has been no official confirmation regarding direct communication with those who are currently hospitalized due to war injuries and wish to return home. Migration experts, however, argue that the government must take responsibility—through diplomatic channels—to ensure medical care for the injured, secure appropriate compensation, and facilitate their swift return to Bangladesh.