'He said he'd call again': Grieving mother of Bangladeshi youth killed fighting for Russia
Despite his reluctance, Akram was forced into combat against Ukraine
"Stay well, amma. I'll call you back later. I'm doing okay. But where I work, it's tense. Drones fly around, so we have to be careful."
This was Akram's last conversation with his mother over mobile phone on 13 April.
Since then, his mother, Mobina Begum, waited for her son's call.
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But the call never came.
Mobina waited and waited. Yesterday evening (18 April), the dreaded news arrived.
Akram had died while fighting for Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Akram Mia, 22, was the eldest of the five children of Morshed Mia and Mobina Begum of Hossainpur village of Lalpur union in Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj upazila.
Morshed is a farmer by profession. To help with the family's expenses, Akram learned welding at a technical training centre in Amtala area of Narsingdi's Palash upazila.
Nine months ago, after incurring a debt of about Tk10 lakh, Akram migrated to Russia.
Initially, he found work with a Chinese company and started sending money home, improving the family's situation.
But the family's happiness did not last long.
According to the family, the Chinese company stopped paying him just four months into the job.
Eventually, he and other workers were reportedly handed over to Russian forces.
Despite his reluctance, Akram was forced into combat against Ukraine. Though he shared his fears in early conversations, he later stopped complaining, hoping not to worry his family.
After around two-and-a-half months on the front lines, Akram was reportedly killed on 14 April.
This afternoon (19 April), Akram's small one-storey house was crowded with grieving relatives.
Mobina Begum was lying on the bed and lamenting.
Every now and then, she would get up and cry, remembering her beloved child.
Morshed Mia was sitting outside the house, unable to control emotions as those swept over him.
"I just want to see my son's body one last time," Mobina wept.
"On 13 April, he told me he would call me back when he woke up. But he never called. Someone from Mymensingh called yesterday and told me he's no more.
"I can't believe my son is gone, it seems like he will call me back after waking up. I want justice for those who forced my son to go to war," she said.
Akram's father blames the training centre that arranged his travel.
"They initially promised a job in Poland but later said that was not possible and offered Russia instead. Their deception led to my son's death," Morshed said.
On one hand, they are mourning the death of their child, and on the other hand, they are distraught over the payment of debts to the bank and NGO.
"My son took the responsibility of the entire family on his shoulders. Now I don't know how I will run the family and pay the debts," Morshed added.
Baker Ahmed Khan, a local resident, condemned an alleged human trafficking network.
"Young men go abroad dreaming of a better life for their families. But due to these middlemen, they either return destitute or as a corpse.
"The government must take strict action. Otherwise, youths like Akram will lose their lives in foreign lands while trying to bring happiness to their families," he said.
Ashuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rafe Mohammad Chhora said they have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment to begin the process of bringing Akram's body home
"The family members have been asked to go to the ministry with information about where the body is now and in whose custody. The expatriate welfare ministry will provide all kinds of assistance in this regard. The family will also get necessary assistance from the upazila administration," the UNO said.
