FM Khalilur Rahman leaves for Moscow

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has left Dhaka for Russia on a three-day official visit to strengthen Bangladesh-Russia bilateral relations and discuss various international issues.

He left for Moscow on Sunday morning (June 7). Foreign Ministry Information Officer Md. Kamrul Islam Bhuiyan said that Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir is also accompanying him. The Foreign Minister is scheduled to return to the country on June 9.

Diplomatic sources said that Khalilur Rahman will participate in a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the visit. The meeting is likely to discuss various aspects of Dhaka-Moscow relations, expanding mutual cooperation and regional and global issues.

This is the first visit to Russia by the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor since the BNP-led government took office in February this year.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow is committed to continuing constructive and fruitful cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia on Thursday. As part of that continuity, Khalilur Rahman's visit has been organized from June 7 to 9.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that various international issues will also be discussed in view of the upcoming 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. In addition, multilateral cooperation, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), increasing the effectiveness of the UN system, and issues related to the interests of countries in the global South and East will be important in the discussions.

The statement described Khalilur Rahman as an experienced and pragmatic diplomat, and said that his deep knowledge of international processes and multilateral diplomacy can play an important role in addressing current global challenges. Russia also welcomed the initiative to strengthen the coordinating role of the UN.