Russian foreign minister arrives in Bangladesh for 1st high profile visit by Moscow

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – In a first, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov landed in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Thursday for high-level talks on the bilateral interests of the two countries.

It has been the first-ever visit from Russia to Bangladesh since the South Asian country gained its independence in 1971. Russia was one of the major allies of Bangladesh during its war of independence.

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen welcomed his Russian counterpart, who is paying a one-day visit, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where the top diplomats held an initial formal welcoming meeting.

Lavrov will also hold a meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning before he leaves Dhaka for New Delhi to attend the Group of 20 summit.

The Russian foreign minister suspended his scheduled visit to Bangladesh last year in November. The fresh schedule comes following the recent efforts of two countries, especially Russian support for the incumbent Bangladeshi government amid the US and Western pressure on Bangladesh.