The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) on Thursday expressed deep concern over the deaths and disappearances of Bangladeshis who travelled to Russia on promises of employment, and over the failure to bring the bodies of those killed back home.
In a press statement, the rights organisation said that deceiving Bangladeshis into entering war zones under the guise of overseas employment would constitute a serious human rights violation and expose failures in the country’s safe migration system.
According to media reports cited by HRSS, at least 54 Bangladeshis have died in the Russia war over the past three years. Recent reports have also said that at least 20 of 30 Bangladeshis taken to Russia with promises of jobs have been killed.
HRSS called for a comprehensive investigation to establish the fate of those killed or missing, examine alleged recruitment fraud and determine the roles of the authorities concerned.
It said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are responsible for protecting the lives and safety of Bangladeshi citizens abroad.
The organisation urged both ministries to publicly explain the steps they have taken and to clarify any failures, adding that those found negligent should be held accountable. HRSS made four key demands to address the issue.
It called for a time-bound, impartial investigation into the deaths and disappearances to establish the responsibility of recruiters, brokers and others involved.
The two ministries should publicly explain their roles and actions, and legal action should be taken if negligence is established, it said.
The organisation also urged the government to take immediate diplomatic steps to repatriate the bodies of those killed and to locate and rescue those still missing.
Families should be formally informed once the deaths of their relatives have been established through reliable evidence.
HRSS further demanded compensation, insurance benefits, financial assistance and rehabilitation for the families of those killed.
Finally, it called for the prosecution of those involved in human trafficking, illegal recruitment and fraud, alongside stricter oversight, risk assessments and effective accountability mechanisms in the overseas employment process.
Stressing the state’s responsibility to protect Bangladeshis living abroad, HRSS urged the government to act immediately to bring home the bodies, trace missing citizens, safeguard their families’ rights and ensure accountability for all those responsible, including officials of the relevant ministries.