20 Bangladeshis killed after being recruited for jobs in Russia and used as war ‘bait’
Russian drones fly over Ukrainian territory. File photo: Reuters
Twenty Bangladeshis who were taken to Russia on the promise of jobs but sent to fight in Ukraine have been killed, according to the Special Response Battalion (SRB). They were allegedly used as “bait” by the Russian military.
At a press conference on Wednesday, officials disclosed that 30 Bangladeshi men had been sent to Russia through three manpower recruitment agencies. Of them, 20 were killed on the battlefield while two returned homes bearing the scars of war.
The SRB found that the 30 Bangladeshis had been sent to Russia through three agencies named Jabale Nur International, RS International and TS Group.
SRB 10 Battalion Commander and Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Md. Asaduzzaman said two people had been arrested in connection with the case. They are Mizanur Rahman, founder and managing director of Jabale Nur International, and Abu Taher Lentu.
He said, “After speaking with the families of those killed, we learned that most of them came from poor families. They had taken out loans in various ways to go abroad.”
The SRB said it was investigating whether others involved in the human trafficking network were connected to the incident.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since 2022. Several hundred thousand military personnel and civilians have died in the conflict so far. There have also been reports of citizens of other countries losing their lives while participating in the war.
Taken to Military Camp After Being Recruited for Construction Work
The press conference was told that on May 7 this year, 30 Bangladeshis travelled to Russia on work permit visas through the three agencies. They had been told they would work as construction workers. However, they were detained after arriving in Russia.
The Bangladeshis were initially held at a local hotel. Their passports, mobile phones and other necessary documents were taken away. They were then handed over to the Russian military.
The victims realized they had been deceived. Despite pleading for their release, they were not freed. After receiving just 21 days of training at a military camp, they were sent to the battlefield in Ukraine.
SRB official Asaduzzaman said the Bangladeshis taken from the country had neither the physical ability nor the training or tactical preparation required for combat. Despite this, they were sent to the battlefield after only 21 days of training.
According to him, an analysis of the available information suggests that they may have been used as a form of “bait” to identify enemy positions. If drones attacked them, those attacks could provide an opportunity to identify the enemy’s positions.
Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police and commander of SRB 10 Battalion.
17 Killed on the First Day
SRB 10 Battalion Commander Asaduzzaman said 20 people had been killed on the battlefield. The two who returned to Bangladesh were identified as Rajon and Adnan. Both returned home through the Bangladesh Embassy in extremely serious condition after suffering severe injuries.
Rajon now has to walk with crutches. The SRB obtained information from him about the deployment of Bangladeshis on the battlefield and the resulting casualties.
According to Rajon’s account, the 30 Bangladeshis were deployed in three sections of the battlefield: the front, middle and rear. Sixteen were positioned at the front, six in the middle and eight at the rear. Drone attacks killed 12 people at the front, four in the middle and four at the rear.
Rajon said 17 people were killed in drone attacks on their first day in combat. Information later emerged that three more had died at different times. The total death toll reached 20.
Describing Rajon’s experience at the press conference, Asaduzzaman said a drone crashed onto Rajon’s back on the battlefield, breaking his waist. At one point, the lower part of his body began to go numb. He then used a nearby person’s walkie talkie to request rescue. However, he was told there was no way to rescue him from that location.
Rajon later crawled on his chest for nearly four kilometers to reach a camp.
