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Russia Seeks BD’s Support for Gazprom’s Operations
Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khozin met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka today. Photo: PID
Russia has formally requested the cooperation of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to ensure the continuation of Russian state-owned Gazprom International’s gas exploration efforts in the country.
The request was made by Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander G. Khozin, during a meeting with the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna today, according to Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Gazprom has been operating in Bangladesh since 2012, contributing to the exploration of the nation’s gas reserves. In 2023, the company made significant strides, discovering five new wells for further exploration in Bhola.
In response, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus expressed gratitude for Gazprom’s efforts and acknowledged the necessary preparations for drilling in Bhola. He also assured that the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources was actively engaged with the matter.
In addition to the gas exploration discussion, the Russian Ambassador highlighted a range of issues regarding bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and general relations, Majumder noted.
Notably, Russia’s wheat exports to Bangladesh hit an all-time high in 2024, making Bangladesh the second-largest consumer of Russian grain after Egypt. From July 2024 to January 2025, approximately 2.3 million tonnes of Russian wheat were delivered to Bangladesh, including 623,000 tonnes through Government-to-Government (G2G) contracts.
Ambassador Khozin also informed the Chief Adviser about Russia’s preparations to send 30,000 tonnes of MOP fertilizer to Bangladesh as a gesture of goodwill. Additionally, he noted a sharp increase in the number of visas issued to Bangladeshis seeking employment opportunities in Russia’s agriculture and shipbuilding sectors. From January to March 2025, the number of visas issued to Bangladeshi workers had quadrupled compared to the same period the previous year.
The Chief Adviser expressed his gratitude to Russia for its steadfast support during Bangladesh's critical post-liberation war period, underscoring the long-standing ties between the two nations.