The Tragic Exploitation of Bangladeshi Youth in Russia's Imperial War

The Disturbing Facts

A deeply troubling phenomenon has emerged from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, revealing how vulnerable populations from the global south are being systematically exploited as cannon fodder in imperialist conflicts. According to multiple reports, a small but growing number of Bangladeshi youth are being recruited—often through deception—to fight alongside the Russian army against Ukraine. These young men, seeking better economic opportunities, are instead finding themselves trapped in a deadly conflict thousands of miles from home.

The scale of this human tragedy is still emerging, but the numbers are already staggering. Bangladeshi detective Mostafizur Rahman of the Criminal Investigation Department has indicated that over 30 Bangladeshis may have been killed in the war. The online news portal BanglaTribune reports that over 100 Bangladeshis have joined the Russian army, though the actual numbers could be higher. Most heartbreakingly, many of these young men have gone missing entirely, cutting off communication with their families back home and leaving loved ones in agonizing uncertainty.

The Recruitment Machinery of Deception

The recruitment process appears to be a well-oiled machine of exploitation. Bangladeshi and Russian recruitment agencies are allegedly working together to dupe young men with promises of employment and better lives. These agencies prey on economic desperation, using social media videos and false promises to lure vulnerable youth into a conflict they neither understand nor have any stake in. Families of these young men have been desperately contacting the Bangladeshi Embassy in Russia, seeking information about their missing sons, brothers, and husbands.

This isn’t merely about individual bad actors—it represents a systemic failure of international protection mechanisms and demonstrates how global power imbalances continue to enable the exploitation of global south citizens. These recruitment practices amount to a form of modern-day human trafficking, where human lives become commodities in geopolitical conflicts.

The Geopolitical Context of Exploitation

What makes this situation particularly reprehensible is how it fits into broader patterns of neo-colonial exploitation. For centuries, Western powers have treated global south populations as disposable instruments in their imperial ambitions. Today, we see this same pattern repeating itself, though with different actors. The recruitment of Bangladeshi youth represents a brutal form of economic imperialism, where poverty and lack of opportunity in the global south are weaponized to serve geopolitical interests.

The silence from the international community on this issue speaks volumes about whose lives are considered valuable and whose are deemed expendable. Where is the outrage from human rights organizations? Where are the sanctions against these recruitment agencies? The selective application of international concern reveals the hypocritical foundations of the so-called “rules-based international order” that consistently privileges some lives over others.

The Human Cost of Imperial Ambitions

Behind every statistic lies a human story—a family shattered, dreams destroyed, and lives cut short. These Bangladeshi youth likely joined what they believed were legitimate employment opportunities, hoping to support their families back home. Instead, they found themselves on the frontlines of a conflict that has nothing to do with their national interests or personal aspirations.

The psychological trauma experienced by these young men—if they survive—will linger for generations. The families left behind face not only the agony of uncertainty but also the economic devastation of losing primary breadwinners. This represents not just individual tragedy but a collective assault on the social fabric of Bangladeshi communities.

The Failure of International Systems

The ongoing situation highlights the complete failure of international systems designed to protect vulnerable migrants. Where were the safeguards that should have prevented this human trafficking operation? Why have bilateral agreements between Bangladesh and Russia failed to protect citizens from such exploitation?

This tragedy underscores how international law and diplomacy continue to serve the interests of powerful nations while failing the most vulnerable. The Westphalian nation-state system, imposed by colonial powers, continues to create hierarchies of human value where citizens of global south nations are afforded less protection and consideration.

A Call for Justice and Accountability

We must demand immediate accountability from all parties involved. The Bangladeshi government must intensify its efforts to locate and repatriate its citizens. The Russian government must be held responsible for allowing this exploitative recruitment to occur within its borders. The international community must recognize this as a severe human rights violation and act accordingly.

Furthermore, we must address the root causes that make such exploitation possible—the economic desperation that drives young men to seek opportunities abroad at any cost. This requires not just short-term solutions but fundamental changes to global economic systems that perpetuate inequality between nations.

The Civilizational Perspective

From a civilizational standpoint, this tragedy represents everything that is wrong with the current international order. Civilizational states like India and China understand that human dignity and development cannot be sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical games. The exploitation of Bangladeshi youth demonstrates how far we remain from a truly equitable global community.

We must reject the notion that some lives are more valuable than others. We must challenge the systems that allow powerful nations to treat global south citizens as disposable instruments in their conflicts. And we must build a world where economic opportunity is distributed equitably, preventing such desperate measures from becoming necessary.

Conclusion: Toward a More Just World Order

The heartbreaking story of Bangladeshi youth being deceived into fighting Russia’s war represents a wake-up call for the international community. We cannot continue to tolerate a world where the most vulnerable are systematically exploited for geopolitical gain. This requires not just condemning individual instances of exploitation but fundamentally transforming the international systems that make such exploitation possible.

We stand in solidarity with the families of these young men and demand immediate action to bring them home safely. We call for justice for those who have been deceived and for those who have lost their lives. And we reaffirm our commitment to building a world where no human life is treated as expendable in the service of imperial ambitions.