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Published : 27 May 2026, 08:50 PM
Two local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami affiliates have allegedly trafficked four men from Lalmonirhat’s Patgram Upazila to the Russian Army by luring them with prospects of high-paying jobs in a garment factory.
In a press conference at the Patgram Press Club on Tuesday, their family members spoke of the failed efforts to rescue the victims.
One of the leaders, however, denied the allegation after the families reported the alleged trafficking to them.
After complaints started to emerge against Upazila unit Jamaat youth wing President Yunus Ali and municipal unit General Secretary Mahin Islam, the party sacked them on May 20.
Yunus is also the former president of the district unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat.
The four men in question are Nazmul Haque Sourav, 21, Mehedi Hasan, 21, Al Amin, 20, s and Abdullah Al Mamun, 22.
According to the families, Yunus and Mahin lured the youths through an Uttara-based recruiting agency called “RS International”.
The families were charged Tk 950,000 each for visas, tickets and “jobs”.
The men were taken to Dhaka on May 4, leaving for Russia on May 7 and arriving in Moscow on May 8.
Family members said the Russian Army took them from the airport to a hotel.
The group understood that they were sold to the Russian military when the army seized their passports, visas and mobile phones, the families said.
Since then, their direct contact with their families has been cut off.
However, the men managed to contact their families using a deliveryman's mobile phone, describing their sufferings there.
They also sent text messages, begging for help to save their lives.
When the families contacted the dismissed Jamaat-linked activists, they brushed aside the complaint.
The families went to the travel agency on May 14, who assured them that the men would be taken to a safe place within a short time.
The office was locked within a few days.
When contacted, Yunus said: “The men carried legal documents, but were cheated in Russia.
“We've contacted the higher authorities of the agency and the embassies of both countries. Efforts are under way to bring everyone to a safe place.”
Regarding the financial transaction, he claimed: “I gave all the money I took from the families to Mahin, who gave it to the agency.”
However, Mahin denied his involvement, saying: “I don’t know the families. As the agency is familiar with Yunus, he completed the entire process himself.
“I have no involvement here.”
Patgram Upazila Jamaat unit chief Hafez Shoaib Ahmed told bdnews24.com, “Jamaat-e-Islami has no responsibility in this incident. It is a personal matter.
“The organisation immediately relieved both of them from their duties after learning about the incident.”
Patgram Police chief Nazmul Haque said, “I have heard about the incident. However, no police complaint has been filed as yet.
“Necessary legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received,” he added.
