Four of the 30 Bangladeshi workers who travelled to Russia under employment contracts and were allegedly forced to join the Russia-Ukraine war have died, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury told parliament on Thursday.
He said the government has launched diplomatic efforts to bring the remaining workers back home.
Responding to a question from Lalmonirhat-1 lawmaker Md Hasan Rajib Pradhan during the question-and-answer session of the 22nd sitting of the second and first budget session of the 13th Parliament, the minister said the government was working through the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow to secure the return of the remaining workers.
According to the minister, three recruiting agencies (RL licence numbers 1455, 1428 and 2505) sent the 30 Bangladeshi workers to Russia on April 24 after obtaining manpower clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
He said the government took action after receiving reports that, upon their arrival in Russia, the workers were allegedly being forced into military training and arrangements were being made to send them from training camps to the battlefield.
Following the reports, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment wrote to the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow on June 15, instructing it to take necessary steps to rescue the stranded workers and facilitate their repatriation.
"The latest information available indicates that four of the 30 workers have died," the minister said, adding that the government hoped to bring back the remaining workers through continued engagement with the relevant Russian authorities.
Chowdhury said the 30 young Bangladeshis travelled to Russia in April this year after being promised high-paying jobs. Their family members later alleged that, instead of employment, they were provided with military training and prepared for deployment to the front lines of the Ukraine war.
Following the allegations, the government launched an investigation and intensified diplomatic efforts to ensure their return.
The minister also noted that international media reports had alleged that Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs before being sent to the conflict zone.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
4 of 30 Bangladeshis sent to Russia die in Ukraine war
Govt steps up diplomatic efforts to bring back remaining workers, minister tells parliament
FE REPORT | Published: July 09, 2026 23:17:50
4 of 30 Bangladeshis sent to Russia die in Ukraine war
Share if you like