Bangladeshi Job Seekers Duped into Forced Military Service in Russia
Four young men from Lalmonirhat’s Patgram sub-district have been reportedly coerced into a Russian military camp after being lured abroad by a recruitment agency promising high-paying civilian jobs. The men—Nazmul Alam, 21, Mehedi Hasan, 21, Al Amin, 20, and Abdullah Al Mamun, 22—are among a growing number of Bangladeshi nationals allegedly sold to mercenary forces under the guise of employment in IT firms or garment factories.
According to family members, the victims were recruited by local agents who collected 9 lakh taka from each individual. The men were processed through a Dhaka-based agency, RS International, and departed for Moscow via Bahrain on May 8. Upon arrival, their passports, visas, and mobile phones were confiscated, effectively trapping them in a foreign country. In a video recently circulated on social media, Al Mamun revealed that after a brief 15-day training period, they were being prepared for combat duty rather than the promised drone factory work.
The families of the victims have launched a desperate campaign for their repatriation, filing official appeals with the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Allegations have been lodged against three local individuals—Md. Yunus Ali, Md. Sohel Rana, and a staffer named Mahin—accusing them of orchestrating the human trafficking scheme. Following public outcry, the local chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami, to which some of the accused belonged, announced they had relieved the individuals of their organizational duties, asserting that the party holds no responsibility for their personal actions.
Local law enforcement in Patgram confirmed that four separate cases have been filed against the suspects. Meanwhile, the families, who often sold land or took on heavy debt to fund the migration, remain in a state of deep uncertainty. Nazmul’s brother, Liyad Ali, noted that despite the government’s intervention, there has been no word on when or if the men will return.
Data from the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) suggests this is part of a systemic issue. While Russia has emerged as a significant labor market for Bangladesh, with over 4,600 citizens migrating there last year, a predatory network has capitalized on the demand for high wages and promises of citizenship. RMMRU acting executive director Tasneem Siddiqui stated that the organization had previously warned the government about groups trafficking Bangladeshi youth for the Russia-Ukraine war, though initial response measures were limited. RMMRU reports indicate that at least 30 other young men from various districts may currently be held in similar conditions in Russia.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has revoked the licenses and forfeited the security deposits of three recruitment agencies: RS International, Jabal-e-Noor, and TS Overseas Ltd. Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury condemned the actions as a "heinous crime" and confirmed that the government has initiated diplomatic channels to secure the safe return of the trapped citizens. Local parliamentarian Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan added that he is monitoring the situation with "utmost priority," maintaining direct contact with the ministries involved to facilitate the men's rescue.
