Associated Press Investigation
An investigation by the Associated Press has uncovered that Bangladeshi citizens are being lured to Russia with promises of civilian jobs, only to be forced into signing military contracts and deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. AP journalists spoke with several Bangladeshi men who managed to escape from the Russian army. One witness, 31-year-old Maksudur Rahman, described the horrific conditions faced by these recruits.
Conditions of Service and Coercion
These individuals were enticed to travel to Russia with offers of legitimate work. Upon arrival, they were coerced into signing military contracts written in Russian. Forced into service, they were sent to the war in Ukraine, where they underwent training in military camps. This training included:
- Weapons handling
- Drone operation
- Medical evacuation procedures
- Execution of combat missions
According to their testimonies, they were compelled to perform extremely hazardous duties, such as walking ahead of Russian units, carrying ammunition, evacuating the wounded, and retrieving the bodies of the dead.
The AP reports that families of at least 10 Bangladeshi nationals believe their relatives are missing after traveling to Russia. Investigators in Bangladesh suspect that several dozen Bangladeshis may have been killed in the conflict. Witnesses recounted threats they received for refusing orders. Rahman, for instance, was threatened with a 10-year prison sentence and subjected to physical violence. Another witness, Mohan Miaji, reported torture, including beatings with shovels and being placed in shackles.
AP journalists were able to corroborate these accounts with documentary evidence, including Russian military contracts, visas, medical records, and photographs of military dog tags. The investigation indicates an active network of intermediaries recruiting people in Bangladesh and facilitating their travel to Russia. Neither the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry, nor the government of Bangladesh responded to the Associated Press's requests for comment on this investigation.
This situation highlights serious issues concerning the recruitment of foreign nationals into armed conflicts and human rights abuses in wartime. The forced conscription of Bangladeshi citizens into the Russian army is a matter of growing concern for the international community, which is increasingly scrutinizing illicit recruitment practices. This report may prompt further investigations and potential sanctions against countries engaged in such actions. The war in Ukraine has seen Russia increasingly rely on foreign fighters to bolster its forces, with recruitment efforts targeting economically vulnerable regions.