Families Hope Foreign Minister's Russia Visit Will Help Bring Stranded Bangladeshis Home

Families of Bangladeshis stranded in Russia are hoping that the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman to Moscow will pave the way for the safe return of their loved ones.

The visit, scheduled to begin tomorrow, marks the first high-level trip to Russia by the current Bangladeshi government. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir are expected to leave Dhaka for Moscow to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including trade, energy cooperation, and educational exchanges.

 

According to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions may also include strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries. Reports indicate that a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is likely to take place during the visit.

The trip is being viewed as particularly significant as it comes shortly after Dr. Rahman’s election as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Russia remains one of Bangladesh’s key partners in the energy sector and has shown interest in expanding educational opportunities for Bangladeshi students. Bangladesh, meanwhile, is seeking to diversify its energy partnerships beyond its traditional dependence on the Middle East.

Amid these broader diplomatic objectives, families of Bangladeshis who reportedly became trapped in Russia by Bangladeshi recruiting agency after being recruited under false promises are urging the government to prioritize their return. According to family members and campaign organizers, hundreds of young Bangladeshis were allegedly deceived by recruitment networks and later became involved in special operation by Russia against Ukraine. Several deaths have also been reported.

 

Relatives of the affected individuals have been holding continuous demonstrations in front of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). They are calling on the government to take urgent diplomatic action to secure the safe repatriation of those still stranded.

Authorities have already taken action against several recruitment agencies accused of misleading. Licenses of agencies including RS International and Jabale Noor have reportedly been canceled following allegations of irregularities and deceptive recruitment practices.

Despite these measures, families say their loved ones continue to contact them from Russia, pleading for help. Many parents and guardians claim they exhausted their savings, sold land, livestock, and other assets to finance overseas employment opportunities for their children, only to find themselves facing uncertainty and hardship.

 

The families plan to hold a peaceful sit-in program in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow. They say their goal is not confrontation but cooperation with the government to bring their relatives home safely.

Speaking on behalf of one affected family, Yunus Ali, whose nephew remains stranded in Russia, said the government must make every possible effort to secure the return of those trapped abroad.

 

“For the past month, around 30 families have been moving from department to department in Dhaka seeking assistance,” he said. “Some have brothers there, some have sons, and others have husbands. We cannot sleep at night worrying about their safety.”

He argued that the victims were recruited through officially recognized channels and had obtained the necessary documentation before traveling abroad. As a result, he believes the government has a responsibility to help ensure their safe return.

The families now look to the foreign minister’s Moscow visit with cautious optimism, hoping diplomatic engagement will lead to concrete steps toward bringing their loved ones back to Bangladesh.