'Energy sector cooperation with BD Russia’s focal point'

The Russian Federation has described Bangladesh as a very ‘promising’ country and identified its energy sector as the ‘focal point’ of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

 

“We believe that Bangladesh will be able to achieve its ambitious development goals and Russia remains Bangladesh’s friend and partner (in its development drive),” said Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander A Nikolaev, reports the UNB.

 

The Russian diplomat was addressing a media interaction-- DCAB Talk-- at the Jatiya Press Club. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the interaction with its president Angur Nahar Monty in the chair. DCAB general secretary Pantho Rahman also spoke.

 

Nikolaev, who leaves Dhaka on March 10 completing his four-year diplomatic assignment here, also said a strong energy sector is a major precondition to overall development of any modern state and Bangladesh is doing its best to achieve universal electrification by the year 2021.

 

Terming the Russia’s relations with the current government ‘excellent’, the Russian Ambassador said this is ‘guaranteed’ that the ties will be continued under any ‘potential government’ in the coming 20, 30 or 100 years.

 

He reassured that the Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) will be 100 percent safe and suggested the journalists to ask about the safety issue to technologically sound and educated persons to get 100 percent clear and understandable answers.

 

“I’m very satisfied that the NPP project is supported not only by the Awami League government but also the representatives of the BNP,” Nikolaev said referring to his discussion with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other leaders in the past.

 

Expressing satisfaction over what has been achieved in the last four years, the envoy said the next Russian envoy to Bangladesh might face a ‘big challenge’ in taking forward the achievements but hoped that he will surely succeed.

 

“I’m leaving the Golden Bangla with a great sense of satisfaction of a well-done job. Russia has become one of the most significant investors in Bangladesh in the sphere of energy-- the crucial factor of sustainable development,” he added.

 

Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s participation in the Saudi-led alliance (govt described it as center) to combat terrorism, the Russian Ambassador said it initially had astonished Russia.

 

“Despite our initial astonishment upon (Bangladesh’s) joining this Saudi-Arabia coalition, we are not, for the moment, taking care about further development of this coalition and its activities,” he said.

 

The diplomat said Bangladesh Foreign Ministry ‘underlined’ many times that troops from Bangladesh will be deployed only the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

 

The Russian envoy said the coalition has lost significance after the recent joint statement of the US and the Russia on cessation of hostilities in Syria.

 

In December last year, Bangladesh announced joining the coalition following Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir’s request to his Bangladesh counterpart AH Mahmood Ali.

 

The Foreign Ministry, however, described it as a center and never said that Bangladesh would deploy troops under the Saudi-led initiative.

 

The Russian Ambassador said currently there were three such coalitions to fight against terrorism, including the Saudi-led one.

 

Responding to a question on future military hardware procurement, the Russian envoy said any such proposal, if placed on the table, will be considered with a ‘great attention.’

 

He also said some representatives of the armed forces expressed interest to buy some Russian-made military hardware.

 

Asked about visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Bangladesh, Nikolaev said the visit will of course happen but did not give any indication that he will come soon.

 

“Let’s be realistic and serious,” he said indicating that such a visit requires some grounds.

 

A questioner wanted to know why Russia supported the current government after the January-5 elections. In response, he posed a counter question saying, “Can you show me any case in the world where Russia has interfered into any country’s domestic affairs?”

 

He explained further saying that the relations, under the current government, are in the interest of both countries.

 

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Ambassador said by the end of 2015, Bangladesh also found itself in an intricate international environment and came under some kind of international pressure which hampered its development efforts.

 

On trade relations between the two countries beyond military cooperation, Nikolaev said Russia-Bangladesh trade relations show a constant growth.

 

The volume of bilateral trade in 2015 reached almost US$ 1 billion, he said adding, “Evidently, there’s a great potential to increase it far beyond this level.”

 

He went on saying, “Currently we are cooperating in many fields and feel that we can broaden our sphere of cooperation. I can mention IT-sphere, agriculture, RMG, production of pharmaceuticals, education, etc. Indeed, there is a great number of prospects.”

 

The Russian envoy said cultural ties between the two countries are getting stronger.

 

Nikolaev said, “I leave our bilateral relations much more advanced mostly due to mutual desire of the leaders of both our countries to develop the further and due to the warm and friendly feelings of both of our nations towards each other.”