Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday held a courtesy meeting with Non-resident Ambassador of Belarus to Bangladesh, Mikhail Kasko, at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including law and order, security, defence, agricultural mechanisation, fertiliser imports, trade expansion and criminal cases.
The minister welcomed the ambassador at the beginning of the meeting. Ambassador Mikhail Kasko congratulated Salahuddin Ahmed on assuming his new portfolio.
The envoy said Bangladesh and Belarus share strong political and economic ties. He stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
He said “Belarus is one of the world’s leading producers of military equipment and machinery. Bangladesh could explore cooperation in the defence sector and procure advanced military equipment, including drones, from Belarus.”
In response, the home minister said decisions on such matters would be taken after due consideration.
Salahuddin Ahmed said Belarus is one of the major producers and exporters of Potash fertilizer. He noted that Bangladesh currently imports fertiliser from countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia, and Belarus could become a new source.
The ambassador also highlighted various aspects of agricultural mechanisation in Belarus.
The minister said Bangladesh, being an agriculture-based country, could seek technical assistance from Belarus in this sector.
During the meeting, the ambassador raised the issue of a criminal case involving a Belarusian citizen. The minister assured necessary legal assistance in this regard. The envoy also invited the home minister to visit Belarus.
Joint Secretary Rebecca Khan of the Political-1 Wing of the Home Ministry and Deputy Secretary Begum Minara Nazmin were present, among others.
Senior Counsellor of the Belarus Embassy in India Sergei Trotsyuk, Director General of Promagroleasing OJSC Karotkikh Pavel, Deputy Director General Sevizdral Dzmitry, and Honorary Consul of Belarus in Bangladesh Aniruddha Kumar Roy were also present.
