United News of Bangladesh

Members of a human trafficking ring lured around 30 Bangladeshis to Russia with promises of high-paying jobs before forcing them to join the Russia-Ukraine war, where around 20 of them have died, Special Response Battalion (SRB) said on Wednesday. The victims were forced to join the Russian military after reaching the country and were sent to the frontline after 21 days of training, Additional DIG Md Asaduzzaman, commander of SRB-10, disclosed the information at SRB Media Centre at Karwan Bazar in the capital. They were used as human shields to help identify enemy position and determine the locations and distances of attacks, particularly drone strikes, he said. SRB members have arrested two suspected members of the trafficking ring-ringleader Mizanur Rahman, 55, chairman of Jabal-e-Noor International Agency and Md Abu Taher Lentu, 50, in connection with the incident. He said drives were conducted late Tuesday night in Atail area under Nagarkanda Police Station in Faridpur and Kaliganj area in Jhenaidah leading to the arrests of Mizanur and Lentu, respectively. Asaduzzaman said the accused sent Rajon Hossain, 21, to Russia for Tk 8.25 lakh promising him a job at a construction site. After arriving in Russia on May 7, Rajon was forced to join the Russian military. Following 21 days of continuous training, he and around 30 other Bangladeshis were sent to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war. Rajon sustained serious injuries in a drone attack, suffering a fractured pelvic bone and losing the strength in both legs, the SRB official said. After enduring four days of suffering, Rajon managed to reach a hospital for treatment and eventually escaped and returned to Bangladesh on August 23 with assistance from the Bangladesh Embassy. Asaduzzaman said that when Rajon later sought compensation, Mizanur verbally abused his family members, attempted to assault them and threatened to kill them. Following a complaint by Rajon's father, a case was filed with Kaliganj Police Station in Jhenaidah under the relevant laws on human trafficking and prevention and suppression of migrant smuggling. Sharing the findings of the investigation, Asaduzzaman said 20 of them died while two managed to escape and return to Bangladesh. Of the remaining eight Bangladeshis, two are injured and receiving treatment at local hospitals in Russia while the other six remain on the battlefield, according to the SRB official. Investigators have also found the involvement of two others- Mostafizur Rahman and Ali in sending the remaining victims to the country, Asaduzzaman said. The investigation identified the involvement of two organisations- Hares International and TS Group, in the trafficking network. The SRB official said Mizanur handled all arrangements for the 30 victims, from passport processing to boarding their flights to Russia. After arriving in Russia and learning the actual nature of their work, the victims contacted Mizanur and pleaded with him to rescue them and bring them back to Bangladesh, but he ignored their appeals, Asaduzzaman said. He added that investigators have also found indications of the involvement of two Russian nationals in the trafficking network operating from Bangladesh.    

The bodies of five Bangladeshis killed in a road accident in Qatar arrived back in the country on Tuesday. All the deceased hailed from Kanaighat Upazila of Sylhet. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the body landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at around 7am. The deceased are Abdul Qadir of Gachbari village in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet, Mustaq Ahmed Afnan of Majhtaluk village, Jubayer Ahmed of the same village, Jasim Uddin of Agataluq village and Jibal Ahmed of Amrpur village. Sylhet-5 MP Mufti Maulana Abul Hasan was also present at the time. Later, after completing the necessary formalities, the bodies were sent to their villages in an ambulance. The Expatriate Welfare Desk at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, said that the Wage Earners Welfare Board will initially provide a financial grant of Tk 35,000 to the families of the deceased. In addition, another Tk 3 lakh will be provided later. Five Bangladeshi expatriates were killed in a tragic road accident in Shahania area of Qatar on the morning of June 21. The embassy said that necessary arrangements were made to repatriate the bodies with the funding of the Bangladesh Wage Earners Welfare Board.

The bodies of two Bangladeshi expatriates killed in an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon arrived at their homes in Satkhira district on Sunday. The bodies of Shafiqul Islam, 43, of Purbapara village in Sadar upazila and Nahidul Islam, 22, of Kadakathi village in Ashashuni upazil, reached their respective villages at around 10:00 am, where relatives, neighbors, and well-wishers gathered to pay their final respects. The arrival of the coffins plunged the entire communities into sorrow. A flight of Qatar Airways QR-0642 carrying the bodies arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Sunday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After receiving the bodies at the airport, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam handed them over to the family members of the victims and expressed deep sorrow over their untimely and tragic deaths. The Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut made all necessary arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy maintained close coordination with the Lebanese authorities to obtain certified police reports, repatriation permits and other required documentation to facilitate the return of the bodies. The government is closely monitoring the situation of Bangladeshi nationals working in Lebanon through the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut and will continue to provide necessary support to ensure their safety and welfare, the ministry said. The two Bangladeshis were killed on May 11 in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon. Their bodies were brought back home after completion of all required formalities. Family members said both the deceased went to Lebanon only a few months ago in search of better livelihoods and were working hard to support their families. Khaledur Rahman, assistant director of the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Khulna office , visited the bereaved families and said the families of the deceased received cheques worth Tk 35,000 and Tk 50,000 as emergency support at the airport. Besides, the Ministry will later provide Tk 10 lakh in financial assistance, while the state-run Jiban Bima Corporation will extend an additional Tk 3,00,000 to each famiy.

Two Bangladeshi nationals have lost their lives and seven others have sustained injuries due to missile and drone attacks in different parts of the Middle East. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the updates on Monday, stating that the government of Bangladesh is ‘deeply saddened’. In the United Arab Emirates, Saleh Ahmed, a Bangladeshi national from Baralekha, Sylhet, tragically lost his life in Ajman after being struck by debris resulting from an aerial attack on a civilian installation. The Embassy of Bangladesh in the United Arab Emirates is in close contact with the local authorities regarding the matter and is extending necessary assistance to repatriate the mortal remains once commercial flights resume, said the ministry. It has been reported that one Bangladeshi national has been killed and three more have been injured in Bahrain. Tehran refuses negotiations; Israeli air strikes kill 31 in Lebanon Bangladesh Mission in Manama is in touch with the local authorities regarding the incident. In the State of Kuwait, four Bangladeshi nationals, Aminul Islam from Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria; Rabiul Islam from Sathia, Pabna; Masudur Rahman from Begumganj, Noakhali; and Dulal Miah from Chandina, Cumilla, sustained injuries following a drone attack in the vicinity of the civilian airport. They have received necessary medical treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kuwait remains in regular contact with them and the Ambassador personally visited them at the hospital, said the Ministry. Separately, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel Banglar Joyjatra is currently stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. The Embassy is maintaining close communication with the vessel's captain. All crew members are reported to be safe. The government of Bangladesh reiterated its deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East and continues to monitor developments closely.