Bangladeshi Workers Deceived by Fake Job Offers in Russia and Forced to Fight in Ukraine; Families Report Abuse and Non-Payment

 Workers from Bangladesh have reported an alarming case of labor exploitation and military coercion after being deceived with civilian job offers in Russia and forced to participate in the war in Ukraine.

The investigation, based on direct testimonies from the victims, employment documents, and accounts from family members, reveals how intermediaries recruited men from rural and impoverished areas, promising high-paying, legal jobs, only to divert them into an armed conflict from which many never returned.

Families claim they never received payments and still have no clear answers from either Bangladeshi or Russian authorities.

Reviewed documents indicate that initial promises included contracts in construction, agriculture, and services, with salaries double the local average income.

Upon arriving in Russia, the workers were instructed to take part in military operations, with minimal training and no legal protection. The intermediaries vanished, leaving the workers exposed to violence and extreme wartime conditions. Families report that the men were taken away without explanation, and many remain missing. 

Migration and labor rights specialists note that this case reflects a broader pattern of exploiting vulnerable citizens in countries with weak regulation and high poverty.

“This is a carefully organized scheme that manipulates the need for employment and the lack of information to induce people into high-risk situations,” said an international human rights expert.

Bangladeshi authorities have stated they are investigating the matter, but so far, efforts to repatriate the workers and sanction the intermediaries have been limited, heightening the concern of families demanding justice and transparency.

The case underscores the responsibility of states to protect their citizens from transnational criminal networks.

The absence of clear controls in international hiring allowed intermediaries to exploit workers’ vulnerability, exposing them to serious and long-lasting consequences. The ongoing war in Ukraine, with its extended violence, increases the risk of death and irreversible physical and psychological harm for those deceived.

Additionally, the episode demonstrates how poverty, corruption, and lack of state oversight facilitate both labor and military exploitation. Government transparency, legal protection, and strict oversight in international hiring are essential to prevent such tragedies. Without these measures, innocent citizens fall victim to criminal networks acting with impunity, while families are left helpless, without information or resources.

From a conservative perspective, this situation highlights the importance of legitimate authority, law and order, and the protection of the family as the fundamental core of society.

By undervaluing the need for strong institutional frameworks and government accountability, the left fosters an environment where exploitation and abuse proliferate, endangering citizens’ safety and weakening social stability.

The tragedy of these Bangladeshi workers is not only a humanitarian issue but also a reminder that the absence of order and authority has real and painful consequences.