Lavrov in Dhaka: Talks on investment and Rooppur nuclear power plant

First visit by a Russian foreign minister to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina calls for a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine "the consequences of which weigh on developing countries." Nuclear fuel for the Rosatom-built plant will arrive in October. But due to delays in work on the local power grid infrastructure, it is unlikely to start operating in July 2024 as planned.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - After participating in the ASEAN summit in Jakarta and before moving to New Delhi for the G20 meeting currently underway, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a two-day visit to Bangladesh. The Dhaka stopover is a significant considering that it is the first ever visit by a Russian Foreign Minister to the country.

Meeting him, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Moscow to find a way to end the war in Ukraine peacefully through dialogue. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh  added that a quik solution is essential so that developing countries around the world do not have to face economic risks due to shortages of food, energy and fertilizers due to sanctions and counter-sanctions.

Lavrov said he appreciated Bangladesh's "balanced and responsible" position in the war between Ukraine and Russia, while the prime minister reiterated that Bangladesh believes in the foreign policy adopted by the Father of the Nation Mujibur Rahman: "Friendship with all, enmity with none" .

Moscow gave its support to Dhaka in the 1971 war of liberation. Recalling this long friendship, Sheikh Hasina hoped for an increase in trade between the two countries, urging greater Russian investments in Bangladesh.

Lavrov replied that Russia is thinking of investing in Bangladesh's Special Economic Zone and importing clothing manufactured in the country, inviting Dhaka to present specific proposals.

Bangladesh is Russia's second largest trade and investment partner in South Asia. The visit to the country was also an opportunity to discuss the status of work on the Rooppur power plant that the Russian atomic agency Rosatom is building in Bangladesh and whose first 1200 MegaWatt reactor was due to come into operation in July 2024.

Lavrov he assured that the work will be completed within the scheduled time, while Hasina declared that nuclear fuel for the plant will be imported as early as October, inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to virtually participate in the event.

Despite Bangladesh's great thirst for energy, however, it is very unlikely that the power plant will actually come into operation in ten months: in fact, the infrastructural works that Dhaka must carry out for connection to the electricity grid are very late.

Without their completion, not even the tests on the power plant are possible. Next month's ceremony, therefore, is only expected to be a symbolic event considering the now imminent elections in Bangladesh.

Dhaka also discussed a long-term agreement between the two countries for the import of fertilizers from Russia, as well as 300 thousand tons of Russian wheat.