Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman will travel to Moscow on Sunday for a three-day official visit, marking the first high-level political engagement between Bangladesh and Russia since the BNP-led government assumed office in February after 17 years in opposition.
The visit is being seen as an important step in Dhaka’s broader effort to pursue a balanced and diversified foreign policy by strengthening relations with major global powers.
Over the past several months, the new government has intensified diplomatic engagement with India, China, and the United States. The Moscow trip is expected to complement those efforts and reaffirm Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining constructive ties with all major partners.
As Bangladesh seeks to navigate an increasingly complex international environment, Khalilur Rahman’s Moscow visit is expected to underscore Dhaka’s intention to maintain balanced relations with all major powers while advancing its national development and strategic interests.
During the visit, Rahman is scheduled to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday. He is also expected to meet senior Russian officials and give interviews to local media outlets.
Apart from bilateral issues, discussions are likely to cover major international developments and multilateral cooperation. The visit carries added significance as Rahman is the president-elect of the United Nations General Assembly, a position that has further elevated Bangladesh’s diplomatic profile on the global stage.
Diplomatic observers view the trip as a forward-looking initiative aimed at building a long-term framework for cooperation with Moscow at a time of rapid geopolitical change.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Md Nazrul Islam described the visit as a milestone in bilateral relations.
“This will be the first interaction between Dhaka and Moscow at the highest political level since the formation of the new government. We expect productive discussions and positive outcomes from the meetings,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and Russia have maintained cordial relations for decades, with cooperation spanning energy, trade, agriculture, education, human resources, and defence.
Russia remains one of Bangladesh’s key partners in the energy sector, particularly through its involvement in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s first nuclear energy project.
The Rooppur project, being implemented with Russian technical and financial support, is widely regarded as the flagship symbol of bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Nazrul Islam said work on the project continues smoothly with Russian assistance.
“Cooperation on the Rooppur power plant is ongoing, and Russia is providing the necessary support for its successful implementation. It is expected that commissioning of the second unit will take place within one year as planned,” he said.
Beyond energy, Dhaka is also interested in expanding trade and economic cooperation with Moscow. Bangladesh sees opportunities to increase imports of Russian food grains, wheat, and fertilisers, commodities that are critical for ensuring food security and supporting agricultural productivity.
“There is considerable potential in the bilateral relationship. Russia can be an important source of food grains and fertilisers, which are essential for Bangladesh’s development needs,” the ambassador said.
The visit could help identify new areas of cooperation, including technology, education, pharmaceuticals, human resources, and investment, while also providing an opportunity for both countries to exchange views on regional and global challenges, he added.
