Bangladesh has formally requested Russia’s backing for its bid to join BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation among Global South nations within international platforms such as the United Nations.
The request was made during a bilateral meeting held on Monday in Moscow between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov responded positively to Dhaka’s pursuit of membership in these intergovernmental groupings.
BRICS – originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – serves as a diplomatic and economic platform to increase the Global South’s influence in global governance.
The bloc expanded in 2023 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Although Bangladesh applied for membership that same year, it did not secure sufficient support at the time.
The SCO is a significant Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance comprising ten member states, and Bangladesh is looking to deepen its engagement with these nations.
Khalilur arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his counterpart. He was accompanied by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Nazrul Islam.
Economic and trade cooperation
During the discussions, Khalilur urged Russia to support the conclusion of a free trade agreement between Bangladesh and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
With bilateral trade currently exceeding $2 billion annually, Bangladesh requested duty-free and quota-free access for its products in the Russian market, alongside a call for more efficient registration processes for its goods.
The ministers also reviewed the status of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. The first unit of the facility was commissioned on April 28, while the second unit is slated to begin operations later this year.
Once fully functional, the plant is expected to provide approximately 10 per cent of Bangladesh’s total electricity supply.
Broadening bilateral ties
The two sides agreed to expand collaboration across various sectors, including power, energy, industry, agriculture, technology, research, education, culture, tourism, transport, and defence.
Khalilur invited Russian investment into Bangladesh’s special economic zones and hi-tech parks, specifically highlighting opportunities in light and heavy engineering, petrochemicals, food and agro-processing, information technology, and steel manufacturing.
Talks also touched upon the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for secure employment in Russia. Both ministers emphasised the importance of finalising pending bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding.
International and regional issues
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s support for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar and backed efforts to repatriate Bangladeshi nationals currently stranded in Russia.
Additionally, Lavrov congratulated Khalilur on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
He expressed Russia’s support for Khalilur’s initiatives to improve UNGA efficiency and strengthen the United Nations’ role in tackling global challenges.
The meeting concluded with a look toward January 2027, which will mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“We want to celebrate this upcoming anniversary with concrete agreements,” Khalilur said.
