Son killed in Russia as mother's grieving touches all hearts in Phulbaria
Photo: Agamir Somoy
“My son gave up his studies and went abroad to ease our hardship. He (son) said he would come back, build a house, and get married. I even bought bricks. We last spoke about a month and a half ago—he said he was fine and working, told us not to worry, said there were network problems and to leave messages. Then his phone went off. Later we saw his photo with a gun on the phone, and it said he died in the war," this was what a grieving mother was telling locals and kept weeping.
"My son went abroad for a company job—how did he end up in a war? Brokers deceived him and sent him to fight. Please bring my son’s body home—let me see his face one last time,” she said with a broken heart as if her eyes had more water to shed.
She is Ramisa Khatun, the mother of Abdur Rahim (30), who was killed in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Abdur Rahim was the eldest son of Azizul Haque, an imam at a local mosque, from Namapara village under Putijana Union in Phulbaria, Mymensingh. The family owns little to no land.
Rahim completed Dakhil in 2011 from Dhamar Afazia Dakhil Madrasa and Alim in 2014 from Phulbaria K.I. Senior Fazil Madrasa. While studying botany in his second year at a government M.M. Ali College, he dropped out to support his family.
To cover household expenses and the education of his two younger brothers, Rahim borrowed around Tk 600,000 and went to Singapore in mid-2015. After nearly seven years with limited success, he returned home in August 2023 and again started browsing for overseas work. Borrowing another Tk 300,000, he caught a broker who sent him to Russia on 7 December 2024. The visa was issued by China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation meant for working in Saudi Arabia or Russia. He initially worked on a ship.
Family members say that five months ago he took an additional Tk 300,000 from home, claiming it was for a job at a wind power company—money raised by mortgaging land. On 16 April, combining wages from his old and new jobs, he sent Tk 140,000 home. The family insists they had no idea he had joined the Russian military or taken part in fighting in Ukraine.
On Tuesday afternoon, scenes of mourning filled the Munshi household in Namapara village. Neighbours and villagers crowded the home. Two dilapidated tin-shed rooms and stacks of bricks bought for a future house spoke to the family’s hardship. Inside, the bereaved mother wailed; outside, the elderly father wept. They were consoled by local MP Md Kamrul Hasan Milon and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Islam Sohag. The family’s sole demand is that Rahim’s body be brought back to Bangladesh.
Neighbours described Rahim as soft-spoken and dutiful. He supported the family and paid for his brothers’ education from abroad. With his death, the family has lost its only bread-earner.
According to family sources, Rahim stayed at home for nearly a year after returning from Singapore. About 18 months ago, he flew to Russia through a manpower export broker. After arriving there, he used to send small amounts of money home every three to four months. When he sent around Tk 150,000 about a month ago, family members assumed that he had found a better job.
On the 28th of last month, Rahim sent a message to his younger brother’s mobile phone saying that there were network problems where he was working, so he could not talk on the phone. He asked them to communicate through messages if necessary. After that, his mobile phone was found switched off.
Last Sunday, a young man named Limon Dutta, who was serving as a Russian soldier in the same camp as Rahim, called Rahim’s brother Abdul Rajjak. He said that he himself had lost one leg in a Ukrainian drone attack during the Russia–Ukraine war and was undergoing treatment. He also said that Rahim and another young man named Riyad from Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj were killed in the same attack. Later, after contacting Riyad’s family, Rahim’s family confirmed the deaths.
Rahim’s younger brother Rajjak said, “He was first taken to Russia on the pretext of workshop work. Later, a broker arranged his recruitment into the Russian army by promising a job at a new company, which we were unaware of. We learned that he died in a drone attack on April 2 near the Russia-controlled Ukrainian border. Later, we also saw a photo on Facebook showing Rahim and four others wearing Russian military uniforms and holding guns.”
Expressing his grief, Rahim’s father Azizul Haque said, “I sent my son abroad for welding work by borrowing money from people and mortgaging land, spending Tk 600,000. Later, another Tk 300,000 was taken from us in the name of a job at a wind power company.”
“We did not know that he had joined the Russian army. Later we heard that he was killed in a drone attack. I appeal to the government to make arrangements to bring my son’s body back home.”
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Islam Sohag said, “Following the family’s application, the necessary documents will be sent to the relevant ministry to bring the body back to the country. At the same time, humanitarian assistance will be provided and the family will be supported. If the family has fallen victim to fraud by brokers, legal assistance will also be given.”
Member of Parliament Professor Md Kamrul Hasan Milon said, “Such incidents are happening because people are falling into the traps of brokers. Everyone must be cautious when going abroad. After contacting the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, we learned that a specific procedure must be followed to bring a body back from abroad. We will provide maximum assistance.”
