Mymensingh man killed in Ukrainian drone strike in Russia, family says

A 25-year-old Bangladeshi man who travelled to Russia after being promised a high-paying job as an electrician was reportedly killed in a Ukrainian drone strike after allegedly being handed over to the Russian military, according to his family and a fellow worker who travelled with him.

The victim, Mamun Mia, was the son of the late Abul Kashem of Kharua village under Kharua union in Mymensingh's Nandail upazila.

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His family said Mamun left Bangladesh on May 7 through a recruiting agency, hoping to earn enough to improve the family's financial condition.

He had agreed to pay the agency Tk 8.5 lakh and travelled with a group of around 30 Bangladeshis who were told they would be employed as electricians in Russia.

But the family alleged that just four days after Mamun reached Russia, a trafficking ring handed the Bangladeshis over to the Russian military. They were later given weapons, trained at a military camp and allegedly forced to take part in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Rajon Hossain of Jhenaidah, who travelled with Mamun, told The Daily Star that Mamun had been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike around two weeks earlier.

Rajon said the group of 30 Bangladeshis left Dhaka on the same flight on May 7 and reached Russia the following day.

After several days, they were taken to a military camp for training before being sent to the frontline on June 12, he said.

Rajon claimed he was injured on June 14 and taken to a hospital for treatment. He later escaped from the hospital and reached the Bangladesh embassy in Russia on August 18.

With the assistance of the Bangladeshi ambassador to Russia, he returned to Bangladesh on August 23, he added.

Rajon told Prothom Alo that a Russian-speaking commander had worked as an interpreter for the 30 Bangladeshis. He said he was still in contact with the commander and had been able to learn some information about the Bangladeshis through him.

Rajon said that he learned about Mamun's death from the commander last Monday.

“The commander told me that Mamun Mia died in a drone strike about two weeks ago. I then informed his family,” he said.

There was no immediate independent confirmation from police or the Bangladesh embassy in Russia about Mamun's reported death or the allegations made by his family and Rajon.

Mamun's family has been devastated since receiving news of his death. He was the family's only earning member, leaving behind his wife and two young children.

His wife, Mahima Akter, said she last spoke to Mamun on August 26.

"He told me he was in the war. He had to walk about eight kilometres to get a Wi-Fi connection so that he could speak to us," she said.

Mahima also said, "I have two children. There is no one else to look after them. My husband was the only earning member of the family. I don't know how I will run the family now."

She demanded that the government take steps to bring his body back as soon as possible.

Mamun's mother, Rokeya Khatun, said the family had borrowed heavily to send him abroad.

"I never imagined my only son would meet such a fate," she said.

The family alleged that a group had taken large sums of money from young men with promises of high-paying jobs before forcing them into the war.

They demanded exemplary punishment for the recruiting agency and others involved in the alleged trafficking.

Nandail Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Azharul Islam said they learned about the incident through social media.

"No one from the family has informed us yet. We are looking into the matter," he said.

Nandail Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fatema Jannat said the local administration had learned about the incident and asked the family to submit a written application.