A number of Bangladeshi workers who migrated to Russia through legal channels for formal jobs in the construction or logistics sectors have reportedly been coerced into fighting on the front line for Russia in the ongoing Russia鈥揢kraine war, according to a report by BRAC, a non-governmental organisation.
The BRAC Migration Programme reported that at least 10 Bangladeshi families had informed them of losing contact with their migrant relatives soon after they had entered Russia since late 2024.
The organisation said that the survivors鈥� accounts, family testimonies and verified documents collectively depicted a disturbing pattern of exploitation, deception and coercion.
These migrants had valid visas and legitimate travel records, but faced unlawful coercion after they reached Russia, said investigators from BRAC, which has been assisting affected families through its migration welfare centre.
Shariful Islam Hasan, an associate director at BRAC, said that some workers were forced to join the war after several months of their entry to Russia.
The BRAC investigation found that victims were recruited through Bangladeshi brokers and international agents who arranged valid work permits for industrial sites, construction projects, or warehouse jobs in Russia.
Upon their entry to Russia, many were stripped of their passports, threatened and pressed to sign 鈥榲olunteer鈥� agreements for military deployment, it found.
One such victim, Ayan Mondol from Bagerhat, travelled with a valid Russian visa for a construction job. In his last message home, he mentioned being moved towards the Ukrainian border.
Fellow migrants believe that Ayan was killed in a drone attack, though his body has not been recovered.
Another victim, Amit Barua from Cumilla, was photographed wearing combat fatigues and holding a rifle. He was reportedly among a small 鈥榲olunteer batch鈥� sent to the front line. His family has not heard from him for months.
Relatives of several missing men showed copies of employment documents and visas issued against the migrant persons, revealing that many of them transited the United Arab Emirates before reaching Russia.
Nearly all of the relatives told BRAC that the victims鈥� passports were seized on their entry to Russia, and they were issued military identification tags 鈥榓gainst their will鈥�.
Expatriates鈥� welfare and overseas employment ministry joint secretary Shahidul Islam Chowdhury said that they issued migration permission only after receiving clearance from the Bangladesh embassy in Russia.
鈥榃hat can the government do if anyone travels through travel agency or on his or her own?鈥� he questioned.
According to BRAC, the trafficking network extends beyond Bangladesh鈥檚 borders and involves transnational facilitators who exploit legal migration channels as cover for trafficking and forced recruitment.
鈥楾he consistent pattern of these disappearances demands urgent action from the government, law enforcement agencies and international partners,鈥� BRAC said in a statement, urging families to verify foreign job offers with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training and the Ministry of Expatriates鈥� Welfare and Overseas Employment before travelling.
The Criminal Investigation Department said that they had no specific data on how many Bangladeshis had been trafficked to Russia.
Nearly a dozen alleged traffickers could be traced in several cases filed in this regard in the past two years.
The victims of trafficking were forced to participate in the Russia鈥揢kraine war, leading to at least three deaths.
Jasim Uddin Khan, superintendent of police at the CID, said that a victim fled the war following the death of his fellow in the conflict.
The victim, hailed from Natore, later filed a case with the CID in this regard.
In an investigation, the CID found that a strong ring was involved in the trafficking through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Official migration data show a sharp rise in Bangladeshi migration to Russia in recent years.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, 2,117 Bangladeshi workers migrated to the Russian Federation in the first seven months of 2025 compared with 1,014 in 2024 and 36 in 2023.
Migration experts said that the increase coincided with Russia鈥檚 labour shortage amid the war and its global recruitment drive targeting workers from Asia and Africa to sustain its industrial and infrastructure sectors.
However, the absence of strong diplomatic oversight and a bilateral labour agreement with Bangladesh has left many workers vulnerable.
Rights groups and migration experts are now urging both Dhaka and Moscow to launch a joint investigation to trace the missing workers and ensure that Bangladeshi citizens abroad are not coerced into armed conflict in violation of international humanitarian law.
Inquired as to the circumstances through a text message, the Russian Federation embassy in Dhaka did not respond.
About the allegations, Bangladesh foreign ministry鈥檚 spokesperson SM Mahbubul Alam said that they had heard about some isolated incidents in this connection.
鈥榃e always discourage our migrant workers not to engage in any work when they are offered lucrative remunerations for the jobs they are not recruited,鈥� he said.聽
