Security, migration fears over Bangladeshis in Ukraine

Reports that Bangladeshi nationals are being recruited for the Russia-Ukraine war under false job promises have raised concerns among experts and policymakers, who warn it could harm the country’s manpower export reputation and put workers at risk of trafficking.

Bangladesh relies heavily on overseas employment and remittance inflows, with millions of workers employed across the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Experts say any perception linking Bangladeshi migrant workers to foreign conflicts could create reputational risks, increase intensive scrutiny from destination countries and generate long-term security concerns.

The concern comes at a sensitive time in country’s relations with Russia, which remains an important development partner through projects including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s first nuclear power project.

The recent incidents of killing two Bangladeshi nationals in the Russia-Ukraine war highlighted growing concerns over the recruitment of workers under false promises of overseas employment.

According to rights groups Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds, at least 104 Bangladeshi nationals were reportedly recruited into the Russian military, while more than 34 have allegedly been killed in the war so far.

An investigation by Associated Press reported that several Bangladeshis were lured to Russia with promises of civilian jobs such as cleaners, construction workers and support staff.

Survivors later claimed they were pressured into signing military contracts and sent to front-line battle zones in Ukraine. Some reportedly faced intimidation, violence and threats after refusing to fight.

The revelations have sparked concern in Bangladesh, where migration experts say economic hardship, unemployment and shrinking legal migration opportunities are pushing many young people towards risky and irregular overseas routes.

Several families in districts including Lakshmipur and Munshiganj told local media that their relatives travelled to Russia believing they would work in civilian sectors.

Some later contacted their families from military camps or battlefronts before going missing.

Foreign affairs analysts said Bangladesh has maintained a cautious diplomatic position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and does not support the involvement of its citizens in any foreign war.

They said if illegal recruitment activities are taking place inside Russia, authorities in both countries should cooperate immediately to dismantle trafficking and recruitment networks targeting vulnerable migrant workers.

International relations analyst Imtiaz Ahmed told the New Nation that the involvement of Bangladeshi citizens in the Ukraine war was not entirely unprecedented, but stressed the importance of investigating how they reached the conflict zone.

“The involvement of citizens from Bangladesh and various other countries in the Ukraine war is nothing new.

It is important to investigate how Bangladeshi citizens went there,” he said.

“The bottom line is that different individuals are going there privately, either for ideological reasons or for financial gain.

This war is not bringing anything good for anyone. The sooner this war ends, the better it will be for all,” he added.

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed also stressed that the Bangladesh government should examine how its citizens travelled into such dangerous circumstances.

Responding to concerns over possible impacts on overseas employment, he said Bangladesh professionally exports manpower and depends heavily on migrant workers’ remittances to sustain the economy.

“We do not want anything to hinder our manpower exports. However, regardless of the circumstances, the war must stop. Peace diplomacy must continue,” he said.

Migration specialists say the latest developments have exposed weaknesses in monitoring overseas recruitment systems, particularly the activities of informal brokers and unauthorised manpower agents operating through social media platforms.

Rights groups said many victims were approached through online advertisements promising high salaries, quick visas and attractive employment packages in Russia.

Former Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury told the New Nation that desperation for overseas employment was pushing many Bangladeshis towards dangerous migration channels.

“A large section of our population remains unemployed. As there are not enough employment opportunities within the country, many people seek work abroad.

They become desperate to migrate in search of livelihoods,” he said.

He warned that when legal migration opportunities become limited, people increasingly turn to irregular routes.

“When the scope for legal migration narrows, people tend to choose illegal routes.

When our citizens are detained abroad through irregular migration channels, or when reports emerge from the Ukraine war zone that Bangladeshis became involved in such incidents after travelling illegally, it certainly damages the country’s image,” he said.

He also stressed that the solution required collective action rather than blame.

“If the avenues for legal migration are expanded, irregular migration naturally declines.

Therefore, it is not enough to blame any particular group. Everyone must work collectively,” he added.

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury called for stronger awareness campaigns in migration-prone districts and greater efforts to create employment opportunities both at home and abroad.

“If new labour markets including Japan can be developed, the likelihood of such incidents will decrease,” he said.

Referring to wider migration tragedies, he added, “It is not only the issue of Bangladeshis reportedly taking part in the Ukraine war.

We have also seen our people dying in the Mediterranean while searching for work abroad.

That is deeply concerning.”

Another manpower expert said many migrants often fail to understand the risks associated with travelling to conflict-prone regions.

“They hear about high salaries and free visas. But they often do not understand the geopolitical realities or the legal implications,” he said.

Security analysts and diplomats fear the trafficking of Bangladeshi citizens into foreign conflict zones could create broader diplomatic and security complications if left unaddressed.

International media reports suggest similar recruitment patterns have affected citizens from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and several African nations.

The United Kingdom recently imposed sanctions on individuals and entities accused of recruiting vulnerable migrants to support Russia’s war efforts, describing such practices as exploitative and illegal.

Experts in Bangladesh say the deaths of Bangladeshi nationals in the Ukraine war should serve as a wake-up call for both authorities and the public.

Analysts urged the government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Russia, strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies and launch nationwide awareness campaigns warning citizens about fraudulent overseas job offers linked to conflict zones.