Relatives of expatriates who were sent to fight in Russia under the promise of work formed a human chain in front of the Press Club today. They appealed for the safe return of their loved ones to their homeland. They also demanded that the accused agency be punished.
The mother of one of the victims in the human chain said, "I told the broker that I want my son back."
The broker said he would return your son but it would cost 2.5 lakh taka. I went home, pawned everyone's jewelry, and the next morning, went to Dhaka and gave the broker 2.5 lakh taka. Still, I did not get my son back.
The wife of another victim expatriate said, "When I found out about the war, I asked the broker why he sent me to the war." The broker said, "I didn't know about the war either. It happened like this after I went there. But he knows everything."
The relative also said, the owner of the agency has also sent his brother. That is why we believe him. But he has kept his brother safe and put the rest in danger. We have submitted an application to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare. We have also submitted an application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now the last application is to Dr. Yunus Sir. He should bring everyone back alive, including my husband.
She mentioned that she last spoke to her husband the day after yesterday and added that he was taken to war that day. Before going to war, he said, "I am going to war and may not return. If you can, try to take me to Bangladesh." After that, there was no further contact.
Another expatriate's sister said, "My brother left 4 months ago. He can't talk to us directly. He talks to us through messages. Our only demand from the government is that our brothers return to us safe and sound and that the brokers be punished appropriately."
Mentioning that he had previously gone to war on a three-day mission, this relative said, "By the grace of God, he is returning alive. Then, after a two-day break, he was taken back again."
The relative said that they had been given a month of military training before this. At that time, he asked the agency why they were being given military training. They said that Russia is a very big country. They are at war with different countries. So they are being trained for self-defense. However, the relative said that none of the victims have received any remuneration so far.
