FM Khalilur Rahman, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov set to hold talks today

Foreign Affairs Minister Khalilur Rahman is set to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday (June 8), with bilateral cooperation, regional developments and key international issues expected to dominate the agenda.

Rahman is visiting Russia from June 7 to 9 at the invitation of Lavrov, marking his first official trip to the country since assuming office under Bangladesh’s new government formed earlier this year.

According to officials, the two sides will review the current state of Bangladesh-Russia relations and explore avenues for expanding cooperation across a range of sectors, including energy, trade, technology and education. They are also expected to exchange views on major regional and global developments.

As part of his visit, Rahman is also scheduled to meet senior leaders of Russia’s Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Federal Assembly.

Bangladesh and Russia share a longstanding partnership dating back to the country’s independence. The then Soviet Union was among the first nations to recognise Bangladesh in 1972 and played a significant role in the country's post-war reconstruction efforts, including clearing mines and sunken vessels from the Chattogram port channel.

Political engagement between the two countries has remained active in recent years. The latest high-level interaction took place in March 2025, when Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in China’s Hainan province.

Economic cooperation continues to be a key pillar of the relationship, with annual bilateral trade consistently exceeding $2 billion. Russia exports industrial equipment, mineral fertilisers and wheat to Bangladesh, while importing ready-made garments and seafood products.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant remains the flagship project of bilateral cooperation. The first unit began operations on April 28, while the second unit is expected to come online later this year. Once fully operational, the plant is projected to supply around 10 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity demand.

Russian involvement in Bangladesh’s energy sector has also expanded over the years. Between 2012 and 2023, Gazprom International completed around 20 gas well drilling and development projects across the country.

Educational cooperation is another growing area of engagement. For the 2025–26 academic year, Russia has allocated 185 government-funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students under its federal scholarship programme.

The Moscow talks are being closely watched as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation amid shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics.