A 28-year-old Bangladeshi man, Riyad Rashid, has tragically lost his life in a Ukrainian drone strike while serving as a newly recruited soldier in the Russian Army.
Riyad, a resident of Majhirkona village in the Jafrabad Union of Karimganj Upazila, Kishoreganj, was the son of Abdur Rashid, a retired teacher from Jafrabad High School.
According to local sources, the family received the news of his death at around 7pm on Friday through Facebook Messenger. The information came from Limon Datta, a close friend of Riyad from Narsingdi district, who was stationed at the same military camp in Russia.
Limon reported that the drone strike occurred on 2 May at the Russia-controlled Ukraine border. The attack resulted in the deaths of two Bangladeshis and one Nigerian soldier, while three others sustained injuries. Limon himself lost a leg in the strike and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Russia. Upon learning of Riyad’s death, Limon immediately informed the family.
Riad Rashid, the fourth of five siblings, had originally travelled to Russia in October 2024 after securing employment with a private company. However, his cousin, Zohirul Islam, revealed that Riad and several other Bangladeshis joined the Russian Army on April 7. Riad was assigned batch number 735.
The family last spoke with Riad on 28 April, and he was last seen active on messenger at 1pm on April 29. Zohirul Islam expressed the family’s deep distress, noting that Riad’s body has not yet been recovered.
In an emotional statement, Riad’s father, Abdur Rashid, said his son had not informed him about joining the military. “I would never have allowed my son to join if I had known,” he said, adding that he is haunted by reports that the body may have been obliterated in the drone strike.
Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem, the Chairman of Jafrabad Union Parishad, visited the bereaved family and described Riad as a “very good boy” who maintained positive relations with everyone in the community.
Sheikh Mohammad Emranul Kabir, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Karimganj Police Station, confirmed that police officers visited the residence and verified the report of the death through the family members.
