Three Bangladeshi nationals—Rimel Mia, Sarwar Sumon, and Kamrul Hasan—are currently held as prisoners of war in Ukraine after leaving their home country for construction and labor jobs in Russia, according to interviews conducted via Zoom through Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and published by The Daily Star. Families of the detained men have ended months of agonizing silence regarding their survival, yet now face mounting financial debts and complex diplomatic questions over how to secure their repatriation.
The Journey and Detention of Rimel Mia
Rimel Mia, a 27-year-old from Uttar Maruadah village in Gaibandha’s Sundarganj upazila, travelled to Russia in March 2025 for construction work after his family paid Tk 6 lakh to a local intermediary known as “Khan,” according to his father, Syed Ali. The family raised the funds through loans and by borrowing against crops, creating a lingering debt that has grown with interest. Syed Ali stated that Rimel initially worked on scaffolding jobs and sent home Tk 1.70 lakh during his first three months in Russia before moving to Moscow and eventually stopping regular calls.
According to his interview with The Daily Star, Rimel enlisted in the Russian military after losing stable employment and facing legal status issues. Following three days of military training, he spent about a month alone in a bunker-like shelter on the frontline before surrendering to Ukrainian soldiers on December 8, 2025. The months-long uncertainty for his parents ended when Syed Ali saw The Daily Star’s video interview on Facebook. Rekha Begum, Rimel’s mother, broke down in tears upon learning her son was alive, and the family is now urging the government to intervene.
Sarwar Sumon and the Deception by Labor Brokers
Sarwar Sumon, a 40-year-old father of three from Trishal in Mymensingh, travelled to Russia around a year ago through a recruiting agency in Dhaka’s Uttara for a gas project, according to his brother-in-law, Anwar Hossain Parvez. The family spent more than Tk 10 lakh by selling a piece of land and taking high-interest loans. When his two-year contract ended after five months, Sarwar and other workers sought alternative employment in Russia to avoid returning home in severe debt.
Anwar Hossain Parvez alleged that Bangladeshi brokers repeatedly deceived the workers, abandoning them in forests, leaving them by roadsides, and taking advance payments of Tk 5 lakh each under the guise of arranging passage to Italy. Instead, Sarwar and Kamrul Hasan ended up signing Russian-language military contracts without realizing their true nature. After completing 35 days of training, Sarwar was deployed to a forested frontline position and surrendered to Ukrainian troops on May 13. His mother, Joshna Ara Begum, and his wife, a private hospital nurse supporting three children, are now asking the government to establish contact and secure his release.
Kamrul Hasan’s Plight and the Wait for Repatriation
Kamrul Hasan, from Laur village in Brahmanbaria’s Nabinagar upazila, travelled to Russia on July 17, 2025, after spending about 12 years working in Singapore, according to his family. His relatives stated that he spent approximately Tk 8.5 lakh, much of it borrowed, to secure a construction job promising $600 to $700 a month. When that work concluded, Kamrul moved to Moscow, where brokers allegedly extracted more money with false promises of sending him to Italy before forcing him to sign Russian military documents.
Kamrul told The Daily Star that he could not read the Russian-language contracts and felt compelled to sign after already paying the brokers. His wife, Nazmin Akter, last spoke to him in May via a video call arranged by Swiss journalist Kurt Pelda from a Ukrainian detention facility, where Kamrul expressed hope of returning within three months. With the journalist having left Ukraine, the family has lost direct contact. Nazmin, alongside Kamrul’s elderly mother Monowara Begum and six-year-old daughter Tayyiba Noor, continues to wait for news while creditors demand repayment of the family’s mounting debts.
Did You Know?
Frequently Asked Questions
How were the detained Bangladeshis located?
The families discovered their relatives were alive after watching video interviews published by The Daily Star, which were conducted via Zoom through Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
How did the men end up in the Russian military?
According to family statements and the interviewees, the men traveled to Russia for construction or labor work through local intermediaries and agencies. After losing their initial jobs and facing debt, they sought new employment, where brokers allegedly deceived them and directed them into signing Russian-language military contracts.
When did the men surrender to Ukrainian forces?
Rimel Mia surrendered to Ukrainian soldiers on December 8, 2025, while Sarwar Sumon surrendered on May 13 after spending five days at a forested frontline position.
What are the families asking for now?
The families of Rimel Mia, Sarwar Sumon, and Kamrul Hasan are urging the Bangladesh government to take necessary diplomatic steps to establish contact with the detained men and arrange their safe return home.
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