Dhaka, June 8, 2026 - Bangladesh and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in energy, trade, investment, and education during talks between Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. Report UNB
The discussions reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and explored new opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the energy sector, which remains a cornerstone of the partnership. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments.
Dr. Khalilur is visiting Russia on a three-day official trip at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, marking his first visit to Moscow since assuming office earlier this year. Following their meeting, the two foreign ministers addressed a joint media briefing.
Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. Ahead of the visit, Russia described the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as the flagship project of bilateral relations, noting that the facility is expected to supply up to 10% of Bangladesh’s electricity once fully operational. Russia also highlighted its contribution to Bangladesh’s conventional energy sector through Gazprom International’s drilling of around 20 gas wells between 2012 and 2023.
The two countries also discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment. Bilateral trade has consistently exceeded $2 billion annually in recent years, with Russia exporting industrial equipment, fertilizers, and wheat, while importing ready-made garments and seafood from Bangladesh.
Both sides expressed interest in deepening cooperation through the Intergovernmental Russian-Bangladesh Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the key platform for advancing economic ties.
Education was another area of focus, with Russia continuing to offer scholarships for Bangladeshi students. For the 2025–26 academic year, Moscow has allocated 185 fully funded scholarships.
Russia described Bangladesh as a longstanding partner in South Asia and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close political dialogue and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors in the years ahead.
