Bangladesh–Russia relations
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Bangladesh–Russia relations refers to foreign relations between Bangladesh and Russia. Russia has an embassy in Dhaka and a consulate-general in Chittagong, while Bangladesh has an embassy in Moscow. Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Bangladesh were established on January 25, 1972.[1] These relations have continued with Russia being the successor state to Soviet Union.
Soviet era relations
The Soviet Union had been a strong supporter of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War and provided extensive aid to the new nation.[2]
Relations with the Soviet Union were cordial in the years immediately following independence. The Soviet Union supported Indian actions in aiding the war of independence, and after the war the Soviet Navy sent a floating workshop to Bangladesh for clearing Pakistani mines from the Chittagong and Chalna harbours.[3]
After the 1975 coup in Bangladesh, relations with the Soviet Union rapidly cooled. The military regimes of Zia and Ershad deemphasized socialist policies and vied for closer ties with the United States, Arab states, Pakistan, and the Peoples Republic of China—all of which were politically distant from the Soviet Union. Bangladesh condemned Soviet support for Vietnamese military intervention in Cambodia, and Bangladesh also strongly opposed the 1979 Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan along with other Western and Islamic nations. In 1989, the Soviet Union ranked 14th among aid donors to Bangladesh. The Soviets focused on the development of electrical power, natural gas and oil, and maintained active cultural relations with Bangladesh. They financed the Ghorasal thermal power station, the largest in Bangladesh. A low point in Bangladeshi-Soviet relations came after the expulsion of nine Soviet diplomats from Dhaka in December 1983 and January 1984 by the unpopular military regime of General Ershad.[4]
State visits
In March 1972, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Moscow, in part to thank the Soviet Union for their support in 1971.[5][6][7] In 2009, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited St. Petersburg and met Russian President Vladimir Putin.[8] In January 2013, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.[9] In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Bangladesh.
Energy cooperation
In 2012, the two countries signed two key Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) which would further facilitate collaboration between the two countries in developing the nuclear power sector in Bangladesh.[10]
Defense cooperation
Russia has conducted an aggressive military sales effort in Bangladesh and has succeeded with a $124 million deal for eight MIG-29 fighter jets.[11]
See also
- Foreign relations of Bangladesh
- Foreign relations of Russia
- List of Ambassadors of Russia to Bangladesh
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References
- ↑ http://www.bangladesh.mid.ru/relations.html
- ↑ http://www.mofa.gov.bd/PressRelease/PrintPRDetails.php?txtUserId=&PRid=410
- ↑ "1971 War: How Russia sank Nixon's gunboat diplomacy". Russia and India Report. Russia Beyond the Headlines. December 20, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Intellectually Moscow". The Daily Star. December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19720301&id=63w0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=udEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6674,64119
- ↑ http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/?p=9856
- ↑ http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40394640?uid=3737536&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21101731103703
- ↑ http://www.thedailystar.net/RoundTable/2013/2013_03_02/index.html
- ↑ http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_01_15/Agreements-between-Russia-and-Bangladesh-promote-bilateral-relations/
- ↑ http://www.mofa.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168&catid=43&PRid=591&Itemid=1
- ↑ "BD decides to get rid of MiG-29s". DAWN (Karachi). July 22, 2002. Retrieved August 21, 2015.