Morichali village in Douhakhla Union of Gauripur upazila, Mymensingh, is drowning in mourning. The air is heavy with grief, and the cries of Firoza Khatun are yet to cease.
She wails until she faints, and upon regaining consciousness, she cries out, “Everything is lost… My son, where did you die? How can I cross seven seas and thirteen rivers to reach you?”
Firoza Khatun is the mother of 22-year-old Yasin Miah Sheikh, a young man full of life and dreams. He sold 40 decimals of land and left for Russia, spending around 1.5 million BDT with hope in his heart.
Initially, he worked for three months at a Chinese company in Russia. Later, he applied online and joined the Russian military as a contract soldier.
He eventually took part in the Russia-Ukraine war and was killed on the battlefield on March 27, just before Eid-ul-Fitr.
The tragic news reached Bangladesh after Eid. Yasin’s body was torn apart in a missile attack by Ukraine, leaving little hope of ever recovering his remains.
Using foreign nationals as mercenaries in global conflicts is not new. The Wagner Group’s deployment in the Ukraine war has been widely discussed.
Similar patterns were seen in the wars in Syria and Libya, and the use of mercenaries has become commonplace in several war-torn African nations.
This has led to the rise of private military companies. Many unknowingly fall into their traps. Despite being banned by the United Nations under various international agreements, mercenary forces continue to operate due to a lack of effective monitoring by the UN.
But that is not the central point of this discussion. The real message lies in one of Yasin’s Facebook posts. Before his death, he lamented that he could not become a soldier in his own country but succeeded in doing so in Russia.
His words reflect the shattered dreams and deep sorrow of thousands of Bangladeshi youth who dream of a better future abroad. Despite their education and struggle, they are often left with no choice but to sell their family land and leave the country in pursuit of work.
On their journey, many fall victim to human traffickers, and countless others drown while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.
The United Nations reports that Bangladesh ranks highest among those attempting to enter Europe via the Mediterranean, accounting for 21% of such migrants. Moreover, 12% of those who die on this dangerous route are Bangladeshi.
We know that the youth are the future of a nation. Yet, we have failed to build a Bangladesh where their dreams can come true.
The young people who joined the July Movement demanded employment opportunities and an end to discrimination in recruitment.
But where is the effort to fulfill those dreams? Where is the national plan or roadmap? How can it be acceptable that our youth continue to shed their blood while their basic demands for education and employment remain unmet?
At this moment, the government must ensure that Yasin’s family receives appropriate compensation. More importantly, we hope no one else is forced to take the wrong path like Yasin. Our youth should fight for their own country, not someone else’s.
It is worth noting that earlier, in February this year, another young man, Md. Humayun Kabir from Hulhulia village of Singra upazila in Natore, died in the Ukraine war after being lured to Russia by brokers and becoming a mercenary soldier. His death, too, was tragic and unnecessary.
Therefore, countries that use mercenaries in armed conflicts must be treated with caution when it comes to labor migration.
Our embassies abroad must be instructed to issue clear warnings and take preventive measures in this regard.
