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Published : 13 May 2026, 01:19 AM
A journey begun in hope for financial relief has ended in the smoke of war for Abdus Rahim, a young man from Mymensingh’s Fulbaria, who was killed in a drone strike while fighting on the Russia-controlled Ukraine front.
His family says Rahim first went to Singapore after his father sold land to support him abroad, but earnings there were not enough to ease household hardship.
Seeking higher income, he later left for Russia without informing his family and joined the Russian military as a contract fighter.
On May 2, Rahim was struck during a drone attack while fighting alongside Russian forces in a war zone along the Ukraine border.
The strike also killed Riyad Rashid, 28, from Kishoreganj, injured several others including Rahim, and left a Nigerian national dead, while another Bangladeshi fighter, Limon Dutta, lost a leg.
After days in hospital, Rahim succumbed to his injuries. News of his death reached his family in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Rahim, 30, was the son of Azizul Haque of Putijana Namapara village. His father, also a local ward-level Jamaat-e-Islami leader, is now left to mourn.
“I sent him abroad by selling land hoping for a better life. I used to speak to him regularly. He was always there for us,” Azizul said. “Suddenly, all contact was lost. Later we learned of his death through fellow fighters.”
He added in despair, “What will happen to my family now?”
Rahim’s mother Ramesha Khatun has been repeatedly fainting, crying, “Bring back my beloved son. Everything is over. I want his body returned.”
Relatives said they at least want to see his face one last time and urged authorities to prevent young Bangladeshis from being drawn into such conflicts.
His uncle Afsar Ali said the family now wants swift repatriation of the body and government support.
Local representative Afroza Akter and MP Kamrul Hasan Milon both promised assistance, urging others not to fall into the lure of money and war recruitment traps.
