Promises of lucrative construction jobs in Russia ended in tragedy for at least 20 Bangladeshis who were allegedly trafficked to the country and forced into the Russia-Ukraine war, exposing the deadly risks faced by jobseekers falling victim to fraudulent overseas recruitment.
The victims were reportedly lured abroad with offers of high-paying employment but, instead of receiving jobs, were handed over to the Russian military and sent to the battlefield after just 21 days of training.
At least 20 have died in drone attacks, while six remain on the front line and two others are critically ill in a hospital in Moscow, according to the Special Response Battalion (SRB).
The force has arrested two alleged ringleaders in connection with the trafficking network: Mizanur Rahman, 55, founder of Jabale Noor International, and Abu Taher, alias Lentu. They were arrested on Tuesday.
The information was disclosed at a press conference at the SRB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, at 11am on Wednesday.
Md Asaduzzaman, commander of SRB-10 and an additional deputy inspector general, said the force had identified 30 Bangladeshis who travelled to Russia through three organisations – Jabale Noor, SR and TS – on the promise of construction jobs.
“Thirty people went to Russia through three organisations named Jabale Noor, SR and TS. But they did not get jobs. They were sent to war after 21 days of training. Twenty of them have died,” he said.
The SRB said it had gathered information on the 30 victims through inquiries and direct communication with those concerned. Its findings indicated that 20 had died on the battlefield, six were still fighting and two were receiving treatment in critical condition at a Moscow hospital.
According to the force, the alleged trafficking network exploited the financial desperation of people seeking better livelihoods abroad, exposing them to extreme danger in a foreign conflict.
The SRB said the victims were reportedly forced to sign military contracts after arriving in Russia, rather than being employed in the construction sector as promised. They were subsequently sent to the Ukraine war front despite having received only brief training.
Explaining the suspected role of the recruits on the battlefield, Asaduzzaman said they might have been used to draw enemy fire and reveal military positions.
“What we have understood is that they are sent to the battlefield as a kind of bait, to identify the enemy’s position. When the enemy launches a drone attack on them, that country identifies the enemy’s position,” he said.
The force said the alleged trafficking operation involved not only Bangladeshi suspects but also individuals based abroad. A man identified as Igor in Russia and a woman named Julia in Kyrgyzstan were allegedly involved in the network, according to the SRB.
Investigators are gathering information about their roles, and operations are under way to trace them. Efforts are also being made to arrest another alleged gang member, Mostafizur.
The SRB further alleged that the traffickers ignored repeated pleas from victims seeking to return home, leaving them trapped in a conflict zone far from their families.
The case highlights the grave consequences of fraudulent overseas recruitment, in which promises of better earnings can expose vulnerable jobseekers to exploitation, forced military service and death.
At the briefing, an SRB official was visibly moved while discussing the victims’ plight and urged the public to remain vigilant against deceptive recruitment offers to prevent others from falling into similar traps.
The investigation is continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged trafficking network and the involvement of those accused.