Russia considers Bangladesh an ‘old, reliable partner’ in South Asia

Russia has called Bangladesh “an old and reliable partner in South Asia” ahead of the first foreign minister level official meeting in 45 years of diplomatic ties.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali left Dhaka for Moscow on Wednesday at the invitation of his counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The meeting will take place on Thursday in the backdrop of deepening relations between the two countries.

The relations took a new turn last month when both sides signed an agreement to establish an intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. They also waived visas for each other’s diplomats and officials.

Ali’s visit on Apr 12-13 will be his first to Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry said.

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The last time the two foreign ministers met was on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York on Sep 22 last year.

During their talks, they will discuss issues tied to bilateral, regional and international relations, including the fight against terrorism.

The bilateral relations began in 1971 when the erstwhile Soviet Union firmly backed Bangladesh's Liberation War against Pakistan.

Communist Soviet Union extended its support to the Bangladesh cause at the United Nations in 1971 and helped restore and develop its war-ravaged economy by demining the Chittagong port from 1972 to 1974.

But the relations stalled after the 1975 coup when Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed.

His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Russia in 2O13 which was the first official visit of a Bangladesh prime minister to Moscow since Bangabandhu’s visit in April 1972 after Bangladesh's independence.

Russia is now helping Bangladesh set up its first nuclear power plant in Rooppur.

“Bangladesh is an old and reliable partner for Russia in South Asia,” Moscow said, referring to the relations in 1971.

It also acknowledged that Bangladeshis “remember with gratitude the heroism of Soviet sailors”.

“The ties that developed between them since then are noted for equality, respect for each other’s interests and a high level of mutual trust,” the Russian foreign ministry’s spokesperson said in a statement.

“Russia and Bangladesh are working to strengthen bilateral political dialogue.”

Moscow said the development of all aspects of bilateral relations was boosted by the official visit of Prime Minister Hasina and her talks with President Vladimir Putin in Jan 2013.

“The agreements they reached bolstered bilateral relations in the main areas of Russian-Bangladeshi cooperation, including in the power industry and military technical cooperation”.

Mutual resolve to strengthen partnership in various areas was reaffirmed during a meeting between Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Hasina on the sidelines of the 11th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia last year.

The parliaments of Russia and Bangladesh maintain “close contact and fruitful cooperation” in international organisations, primarily the UN and its specialised bodies.

Trade and economic cooperation is also “growing ever stronger”.

In 2016, bilateral trade amounted to $1.44 billion, which nearly equals the record high figure for 2015.

Of the total Russian exports of $767.2 million, machinery and equipment accounted for 42 percent and agricultural products 39.1 percent.

Bangladesh is a major importer of Russian wheat.

The task of strengthening bilateral cooperation has been assigned to the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation.

Apart from nuclear power plant, Bangladesh is also interested in the Russian expertise in the field of natural gas production.

In November 2014, Gazprom completed the implementation of its obligations under the 2012 contract for drilling 10 wells at gas fields in Bangladesh.

In September 2015, the parties signed new contracts for drilling five more wells, which were implemented in November 2016.

“The foundation has been created for developing cooperation in culture and education,” Moscow said.

Currently 219 Bangladeshi students are studying at Russian universities, 155 of them on federal budget scholarships.