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Last October, Dream Home Travels and Tours Limited in Dhaka took Humayun and Rahmat to Russia, according to their family
Published : 09 Feb 2025, 02:35 AM
A young man from Singra, Natore, who travelled to Russia illegally through human traffickers in hopes of a better future, has reportedly died in combat after being trained for war. Another family member, also trapped in the conflict, is desperately pleading for rescue.
The deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Md Humayun Kabir, son of the late Mohsin Pramanik from Hulhulia village of Singra Upazila.
His brother-in-law, 46-year-old Md Rahmat Ali remains stranded in Russia, fearing for his life.
Similarly, Jafar Hossain, from Sardarpara in Jashore’s Chanchra area, has also been taken to Russia and allegedly sold into military service.
His family claims he was deceived and forced into war.
Reports suggest that multiple Bangladeshis have fallen into similar traps and are now fighting on the battlefield in Russia.
The affected families have reached out to local authorities and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
The Labour Welfare Wing of the Bangladesh Embassy in the Russian Federation has been informed.
Majedur Rahman Sarkar, first secretary of the Labour Welfare Wing in Russia, said: “I learned about this case through the ministry. I have informed the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they will take it up with their defence ministry.
“The process is long and complicated,” he added.
The Criminal Investigation Department, or CID, reported the arrest of a woman in Dhaka on Feb 6 over her alleged involvement in human trafficking to Russia.
Special Superintendent of Police Jasim Uddin Khan of the CID’s media wing said the woman, identified as Fabiha Zerin Tamanna, was arrested from the Dhaka airport area on Wednesday night just before she attempted to flee to Nepal.
According to the CID, Tamanna is a partner in Dream Home Travels and Tours Limited. She is also a member of a human trafficking ring that has trafficked 10 people to Russia with the promise of work, offering monthly salaries of Tk 200,000 to 250,000.
HOW THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDED
According to the family, Humayun and his brother-in-law Rahmat, originally from Atrai, Naogaon, left for Russia together.
On Jan 26, 2024, Humayun was reportedly killed in a drone attack in Ukraine.
Rahmat, fearing for his life, pleaded with his family to save him.
The family has formally requested assistance from the district administration to repatriate Humayun’s body and bring Rahmat home safely.
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare has taken initial steps, and the local Upazila administration has provided Tk 10,000 in emergency aid.
Humayun leaves behind his wife Tara Khatun and their daughter Wajiha Preeti.
Since Jan 26, communication with Rahmat has been sporadic.
However, the family has recorded multiple conversations between Rahmat and the family with the brokers.
bdnews24.com has listened to and reviewed several audio recordings of conversations.
A JOURNEY OF DECEPTION
At Humayun Kabir’s home in Chowgram Union in Singra, his grieving mother Karimun Begum cannot stop crying as she clutches photos of her son and son-in-law.
Her heart-wrenching cries seem endless.
The two were lured by promises of Tk 250,000 monthly salaries through Dream Home Travel & Tours Limited, a Dhaka-based agency.
Initially, they were told they would be sent to Cyprus, but the brokers diverted them to Russia instead.
Karimun said, “My son is gone. Now I only want my son-in-law to return alive. I urge the government to bring my son’s body home.”
Wife Tara Khatun added, “My husband sold our gold and land to go abroad. Now he is gone, and I am left with nothing. Rahmat keeps calling, begging us to save him. But the brokers only give us false promises.”
The family initially dealt with Sakhawat, a Cyprus-based agent from Hulhulia, who took Tk 250,000 for a Cyprus visa. When he failed, he returned the money, but introduced them to another agent, one Shamim – also identified with a single name – from Atrai, who worked with Dream Home Travels.
Shamim and the company’s owner, MM Abul Hasan, then demanded Tk 180,000 to secure a work visa for gardening and cooking jobs in Russia.
The desperate family sold their land and paid the amount. On Oct 18, 2024, Humayun and Rahmat were issued Umrah visas for Saudi Arabia, with assurances that they would be sent to Russia after the pilgrimage.
Rahmat’s wife Jamuna Begum said, “When the brokers asked for more money, we sold our last gold jewellery and paid Tk 270,000. Then they were sent to Russia.”
FORCED INTO WAR
Upon arriving in Russia, they were forcibly taken for military training and made to sign contracts under duress. They underwent 20 days of military training in a cantonment, after which they were deployed to Ukraine.
Rahmat told the family, “They took us inside a cantonment, forced us to sign a contract, and trained us for 20 days. We kept begging for help, but nothing happened.”
On Jan 26, 2024, Rahmat called his family in tears: “Humayun is dead. They will take me next. Please save me before nightfall. I cannot escape. They sold us for Tk 20,00,000 each. I have no way out.”
He later sent another message: “This war is horrific. Humayun died three days ago. I barely survived. If they take me again, I will die too. Forgive me.”
SIMILAR ORDEAL FOR JAFAR HOSSAIN
Another Bangladeshi, Jafar Hossain from Jashore, was also deceived and sold into war.
His father Khairul Sardar said Jafar left home five months ago, paying Tk 900,000 for a Cyprus visa.
Instead, he was first taken to Saudi Arabia, then Dubai, and finally Russia, where he was trained and sent to the frontlines.
Khairul told bdnews24.com: “My son is crying over the phone. He said a Bangladeshi had already died; another was injured. He knows he will die too if he is not rescued.”
Jafar’s wife Khadija Khatun is devastated.
“My husband is suffering. He told me to take care of our children because he may not return. I just want him back,” she said.
TRAVEL AGENCY SHUT DOWN, BROKERS DISAPPEAR
Investigations led to Dream Home Travels & Tours Limited, which operated from Banani, Dhaka.
However, their office has been locked for a month, and the owner Abul Hasan is missing.
Mohammad Shahidullah, a security guard in his 70s, has been working at the building for nine years. He said, “The owner of that recruitment agency does not come, so the employees do not either. They have locked both rooms.”
“The agency was active until a month ago, but now it is deserted. Many people came here for visas, but now it is empty.”
A visiting card lists nine subsidiary companies under "Janani Group," with this building shown as its corporate headquarters. In reality, their office occupies just two ground-floor rooms.
A large signboard for Dream Home Travels hangs at the entrance. Inside, one of the rooms was used by Janani Group’s Chairman, MM Abul Hasan.
"Dream Home Travels" is one of the Group's subsidiaries.
When asked how long Dream Home Travels has operated here, Shahidullah said: “The owner of that recruitment agency ran an office at House 25 for nearly 20 years before moving here seven years ago. Just a month ago, many people used to come here. But lately, it has been empty.”
Asked who visited the office, he said: “A lot of people came. Each one wanted to go to a different country.”
When questioned about sending people to the Russia-Ukraine war, Shahidullah replied: “Those who went knew exactly what they were getting into. They were told they would receive Tk 2 million after training to support their families.
“That greed pulled them in. I even heard some completed training and sent money home. Greed is dangerous. Now that people are dying in the war, the blame is on the [traffickers].”
Phone numbers listed on the agency’s business cards are switched off.
AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSE
Singra Upazila executive officer, or UNO, Mazharul Islam said: “We provided Tk 10,000 in immediate assistance and will provide more if needed. We have informed higher authorities and the expatriates’ welfare ministry.”
Natore Deputy Commissioner Asma Shaheen confirmed that the ministry is actively involved.
“We have informed the secretary of the expatriates’ welfare ministry. The process to bring Rahmat Ali back and recover Humayun’s body has begun.”
Meanwhile, local organisations, including the Hulhulia Social Development Council, are pressing for justice.
Council Chairman Aminul Mandal said, “We demand the immediate return of Rahmat Ali and the repatriation of Humayun’s body. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
The families of the trapped Bangladeshis continue to wait in fear and desperation, hoping the government will bring their loved ones home – dead or alive.
[Senior Correspondent Golam Mortuja Antu and Staff Correspondent Masum Kamal assisted in the preparation of the report]
