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At least 20 Bangladeshi nationals are believed to have died after being lured to Russia with promises of employment and subsequently sent to the frontlines of the ongoing war, according to Bangladesh’s Special Response Battalion (SRB). Seventeen of them reportedly died on their very first day in combat.
The victims were among 30 Bangladeshis who traveled to Russia on May 7 through three companies allegedly linked to a human trafficking network. According to investigators, the men were promised jobs and processed for work permits, but instead found themselves caught in a deadly conflict.
The findings were disclosed at a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, October 14, by Additional Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Asaduzzaman, commander of SRB-10. Authorities also announced the arrests of two alleged key figures in the trafficking operation: Mizanur Rahman, founder of Jabale Noor International, and Abu Taher, also known as Lentu.
Investigators said the three companies allegedly involved were Jabale Noor International, RS International and TS Group. Preliminary findings suggest that 21 of the 30 men were sent through arrangements made by Jabale Noor International.
Upon arriving in Russia, the men were reportedly confined to a local hotel, where their passports, mobile phones and other important documents were taken away. Rather than receiving the jobs they had been promised, they were allegedly handed over to the Russian military.
According to the SRB, the men were unable to escape the situation even after pleading for help. They were subsequently taken to a military camp and given 21 days of combat training before being deployed to the battlefield.
Investigators believe the men were divided into three groups: 16 at the frontline, six in the middle section and eight in the rear. Based on information gathered from survivors and families, 12 of the 16 men in the frontline group reportedly died in drone attacks on the first day. Four members of the second group and another four from the third group also reportedly died, bringing the preliminary death toll to 20.
Two of the 30 Bangladeshis have returned home in critical condition with serious injuries, following assistance through the Bangladesh embassy. One survivor, identified as Rajon, sustained severe injuries to both legs and reportedly suffered a broken waist or lower back after a drone struck him during the fighting.
According to the account shared by the SRB, Rajon tried to seek rescue through a radio communication system with the help of an Egyptian interpreter. However, he was allegedly told that no rescue was possible. Despite his injuries, he reportedly dragged himself approximately four kilometres using his upper body to reach an area near the camp.
When he finally sought medical assistance, he was allegedly questioned about his weapon before receiving help. His account has raised serious concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals caught in the conflict.
The SRB said it compiled a list of all 30 men and contacted their families to verify their circumstances. Officials described the families as financially vulnerable, with many reportedly borrowing money or taking loans from non-governmental organizations to finance their relatives’ journeys abroad.
For some families, the tragedy has brought not only devastating loss but also painful uncertainty. Investigators said several relatives have yet to receive confirmation that their loved ones have died, while others continue to hope that their missing family members will return home.
Authorities also raised concerns about why men with no adequate military preparation were sent into active combat after only three weeks of training. The SRB suspects they may have been deployed as a way to identify enemy positions, potentially exposing them to attacks so that Russian forces could determine where the strikes originated. This remains an initial assessment by investigators.
According to officials, some of the victims had reportedly contacted members of the alleged trafficking network before and after reaching Russia, pleading to be brought home. However, no effective arrangements were made to return them, investigators said.
The arrests mark a significant development in the investigation, with authorities pledging to assist the relevant investigative agencies and pursue justice for the victims and their families.
The case serves as a stark warning to Bangladeshis seeking employment abroad. What began as a hope for financial stability and a better future allegedly ended in forced military deployment, devastating injuries and the deaths of young men whose families are still waiting for answers.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 15 Oct 2026, 11:00.
