Dhaka, Moscow reaffirm partnership at Russia's National Day

Bangladesh and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties as the Russian Embassy in Dhaka celebrated Russia's National Day, highlighting growing cooperation in energy, education and multilateral engagement.

The Russian Embassy hosted a reception on Friday evening, bringing together senior government officials, parliamentarians, diplomats, military officers, journalists and graduates of Soviet and Russian universities.

Speaking at the event, Russian Chargé d'Affaires to Bangladesh Vyacheslav Sentyurin described the first half of 2026 as particularly productive for Bangladesh-Russia relations and highlighted several recent milestones in bilateral cooperation.

He placed special emphasis on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman's recent official visit to Moscow and the physical start-up of Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

Sentyurin said Russia and Bangladesh have maintained friendly relations since Bangladesh's independence and expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, energy, defence, industry, education and people-to-people exchanges.

Referring to Dr Khalilur's visit to Moscow earlier this week, he expressed optimism that the trip would open new avenues of cooperation and lead to further joint initiatives.

The Russian diplomat also welcomed Dr Khalilur's election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), noting that Russia looks forward to continuing close cooperation with Bangladesh at the United Nations (UN).

Highlighting progress in the energy sector, Sentyurin described the physical start-up of Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as a major achievement resulting from years of coordinated efforts by Bangladeshi and Russian experts.

He said the country's first nuclear power facility is expected to begin supplying electricity to the national grid by the end of this year.

"The project is a real proof that our joint efforts bring tangible results," he said.

The Russian envoy also noted a growing interest among Bangladeshi students in pursuing higher education in Russia and said Moscow has increased the number of scholarships available for Bangladeshi applicants.

He expressed confidence that the graduates would make valuable contributions to Bangladesh's future development.

Addressing the gathering as Foreign Ministry's Secretary (East and West) Dr Md Nazrul Islam praised Russia's rich intellectual and cultural heritage and reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Russian Federation.

He underscored the importance of continued cooperation in areas of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction with the growing momentum in bilateral relations.

The reception concluded with a cultural performance by the Alabuga Folk Song and Dance Ensemble from Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.

The troupe performed traditional and contemporary songs, instrumental pieces and folk dances, offering guests a glimpse into the cultural heritage and traditions of the Tatar people, one of Russia's largest ethnic communities.