Russia

Despite a score of 11 — the highest on this platform — Russia is one of the **most dangerous destinations in the world for Bangladeshi workers**, because of a documented pattern of Bangladeshis being deceived into the Russian military and killed in the war in Ukraine. The score reflects an active labour corridor and a Moscow embassy; it does **NOT** reflect safety. Read this page as a warning.

MILITARY TRAFFICKING OF BANGLADESHI NATIONALS — DOCUMENTED, ACTIVE, LETHAL:

A documented, active, and lethal pattern: Bangladeshi men recruited with promises of civilian jobs (or study) in Russia have been **deceived into signing Russian-language military contracts they could not read**, then sent to the front lines in Ukraine. At least **104 Bangladeshis have been recruited into the Russian armed forces**; at least **34 have been confirmed killed in combat**.

The typical route: **Dhaka → transit via Saudi Arabia or UAE → Moscow → military deployment**. Workers arrive believing they will work in construction, factories, or shipyards. Instead, they are pressured or tricked into signing military service contracts written entirely in Russian — a language they do not speak or read. Their passports are confiscated. They are deployed to active combat zones.

Some were recruited through **BMET-cleared agencies** — meaning official BMET clearance is **NOT a guarantee of safety** for Russia.

Source: **Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds**, *"I Was Tricked into the War,"* March 2026 (62-page investigative report). Additionally: 35 workers returned to Bangladesh in January 2026 alleging recruitment fraud; 120 Bangladeshis total have been repatriated from military or military-adjacent situations.

RED FLAGS — READ BEFORE ACCEPTING ANY RUSSIA JOB OFFER:

Be extremely wary of any Russia job offer, especially:
- **Contracts or documents only in Russian** that you are asked to sign without a verified Bangla or English translation
- **Recruiters who route you through Saudi Arabia or the UAE** to reach Russia (this is the documented trafficking route)
- **Vague "construction," "security," or "support" roles** with unusually high pay
- **Any mention of military, defence, or "volunteer" service** — this is not volunteer work
- **Agencies that rush the process** or discourage you from verifying the employer independently
- **Passport confiscation** at any point after arrival — this is a trafficking indicator under international law

If you have already signed something in Russian you did not understand, contact the **Bangladesh Embassy Moscow** immediately: moscow.mofa.gov.bd.

THE LABOUR CORRIDOR — REAL BUT OPERATING INSIDE A WAR ECONOMY:

The legitimate labour corridor between Bangladesh and Russia exists and is growing rapidly:
- **2023:** 36 Bangladeshi workers in Russia
- **2024:** 1,014 workers (28× increase)
- **2025 (first 7 months):** 2,117 workers
- **2025 work permits issued:** 9,300 (up from 2,800 in 2024 — a 230% increase)
- **Current estimate:** approximately **10,000 Bangladeshis** employed in Russia
- At least **25 private recruiting agencies** are active, plus **BOESL** (government agency)
- **BOESL signed an MoU** with a Russian shipbuilding company in Primorye Territory (2022)
- At the **June 2026 FM-level meeting** (Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman visited Moscow June 7-9, 2026), both sides discussed expanding the corridor to **100,000 workers**
- Sectors: **shipbuilding, construction, garment manufacturing, hospitality, welding**
- Minimum monthly earnings reported: approximately **$620**; processing costs under 100,000 BDT (employer-covered in legitimate placements)

This corridor is real and growing — **but it operates inside a Tier 3 / Level 4 war economy** where the military-trafficking risk is documented and active. The same corridor that provides legitimate shipbuilding jobs in Primorye has also been used to traffic men to the front. Approach any Russia opportunity **only with extreme caution and full verification** — verify the employer independently, demand all documents in a language you can read, confirm the physical work location, and register with the Bangladesh Embassy Moscow before departure.

**No formal government-to-government bilateral labour treaty** exists yet between Bangladesh and Russia. Cooperation operates via the BOESL MoU and private agency channels. The absence of a formal treaty means fewer structural protections for workers than in established G2G corridors (e.g., the South Korea EPS system).

COUNTRY CONTEXT — WAR ECONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION:

Russia has been under **extensive international sanctions** since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The sanctions regime (US, EU, UK, and allies) affects banking, trade, travel, and the operating environment for foreign workers. Russia's war-driven labour shortage — as Russian men are mobilized or volunteer for military service — is a primary driver of the demand for Bangladeshi workers. This demand is real, but it exists because of the war.

GDP per capita approximately **$14,889** (2024, World Bank nominal) — about **5.5 times Bangladesh's level**. The Russian ruble (RUB) is the currency. The economy is resource-dependent (oil, gas, minerals) and increasingly isolated from Western financial systems.

ENTRY — VISA REQUIRED (NO eVISA FOR BD):

Russia operates an eVisa system at electronic-visa.kdmid.ru, but it uses an **INCLUSION-LIST** methodology with approximately 55 eligible countries. **Bangladesh is NOT on the list.** BD nationals require a **traditional sticker visa** obtained from the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.

**Work visa process:** Employer obtains work permit from Russian Federal Migration Service → issues formal invitation → BD national applies for work visa at Russian Embassy Dhaka. The employer-tied nature of the work permit means changing employers in Russia is difficult — another vulnerability factor.

Rule 31 methodology: INCLUSION-LIST (electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/country_en.html — BD not in eligible list).

BD CONSULAR COVERAGE — MOSCOW EMBASSY:

The **Embassy of Bangladesh in Moscow** (moscow.mofa.gov.bd) is fully operational with active consular services including work permit visa processing. Ambassador: Dr. Shah Mohammad Habibul Hasan. This is one of the few protective factors for BD workers in Russia — a functioning in-country embassy. **Register with the embassy before or immediately upon arrival.**

LANGUAGE — HARD BARRIER (AND A TRAFFICKING MECHANISM):

**Russian** (Cyrillic script) is the sole official language. English proficiency is **very low** across Russia, including in workplaces where BD nationals are employed. The language barrier is not merely an inconvenience — it is **the mechanism by which trafficking occurs**: men sign Russian-language military contracts they cannot read because they do not understand what is written. Any legitimate employer should provide contract translations; refusal to translate is a red flag.

TRANSIT-TO-EU DIMENSION:

Russia also serves as a transit point for Bangladeshi irregular migration to the EU via the **Belarus → Poland/Lithuania** route. IOM data indicates approximately **39,803 Bangladeshis** used Eastern European routes to enter the EU between 2020 and 2024.

US TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: **Tier 3** (2025) — the **worst tier**. Government policy or pattern of trafficking. Includes trafficking of Bangladeshis and other South Asian nationals into military service, forced labour of North Korean workers, and trafficking of Ukrainian children. Tier 3 means the Russian government is assessed as actively participating in or facilitating trafficking.

US TRAVEL ADVISORY: **Level 4 — Do Not Travel** (the highest warning level). Reasons: active war, wrongful detention of foreign nationals, terrorism, arbitrary law enforcement. US Embassy Moscow operates at reduced capacity; all US consulates in Russia are suspended.

BMET — ACTIVE CORRIDOR BUT CLEARANCE HAS BEEN ABUSED:

BMET clearance is required for employment-visa departures to Russia. BOESL and at least 25 private agencies are BMET-registered for Russia recruitment. **However, documented cases exist of workers recruited through BMET-cleared agencies who ended up in military trafficking situations.** BMET clearance is a necessary step — it is not sufficient protection. The smart card fee was abolished December 2025; agents charging for it are overcharging.

If you travel to Russia on a work-permit visa, you must obtain BMET clearance (smart card) from Bangladesh before departure. PDO training may be waived for experienced workers, but the smart card is still required.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for Russia.

The Active Jobs section above shows the current live count for Russia.

Russia's labour market demand for Bangladeshi workers is driven by the **war-caused labour shortage** — as Russian men are mobilized or volunteer for military service, sectors like construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing face acute worker deficits.

Current BD worker trajectory:
- **2023:** 36 workers
- **2024:** 1,014 workers
- **2025 (7 months):** 2,117 workers
- **2025 work permits issued:** 9,300 (230% increase from 2024)
- **Current estimate:** ~10,000 Bangladeshis in Russia
- **Discussed target (June 2026 FM meeting):** 100,000 workers

GDP per capita approximately **$14,889** (2024, World Bank nominal) — about 5.5 times Bangladesh's level. The economy is resource-dependent and under extensive international sanctions.

**The demand is real — but the reason it exists (war) is also the reason the trafficking risk is extreme.**

Russia's GDP per capita is approximately $14,889 (2024, World Bank nominal) — about 5.5 times Bangladesh's level. The Russian ruble (RUB) is the currency, subject to significant volatility due to international sanctions.

Reported minimum monthly earnings for BD workers: approximately **$620** (for legitimate placements in shipbuilding, construction, garments). Processing costs under 100,000 BDT in legitimate employer-covered arrangements.

**WARNING:** Unusually high salary offers — especially for vague roles, from recruiters routing through Saudi Arabia or UAE — are a documented red flag for military trafficking. Legitimate shipbuilding and construction wages are moderate, not exceptional.

The Bangladeshi community in Russia is small but **rapidly growing** — estimated at approximately **10,000 workers** as of mid-2025, up from just 36 in 2023. Workers are concentrated in shipbuilding (Primorye/Far East), construction, garment manufacturing, and hospitality sectors.

There is **no established long-term Bangladeshi community infrastructure** in Russia (no mosques serving primarily BD congregations, no BD community organizations, no BD-language media). The community is entirely recent labour migration.

BD consular coverage: **Embassy of Bangladesh, Moscow** (moscow.mofa.gov.bd). Ambassador Dr. Shah Mohammad Habibul Hasan. **Register with the embassy before or immediately upon arrival** — this is your primary safety net.

**BOESL** (Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited, government agency) has an MoU with a Russian shipbuilding company in Primorye Territory (2022). At least 25 private agencies are also active.

**If you are in distress in Russia — especially if pressured into military service or any activity you did not agree to — contact the Bangladesh Embassy Moscow immediately.**