Bangladesh–Russia relations facts for kids
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Bangladesh and Russia share a special friendship. Both countries have embassies in each other's capital cities. Russia has an embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Bangladesh has an embassy in Moscow, Russia. These official connections began on January 25, 1972. At that time, Russia was part of a larger country called the Soviet Union.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has visited Russia two times. She met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during these visits. Her first visit was in 2009, and she went again in 2013. These visits help leaders from both countries talk about important topics and strengthen their relationship.
How Bangladesh and Russia Became Friends
The relationship between the Soviet Union (which included Russia) and Bangladesh started strong right after Bangladesh became independent in 1971. The Soviet Union supported India's efforts to help Bangladesh during its fight for freedom. After the war, the Soviet Navy sent a special ship to Bangladesh. This ship helped clear dangerous explosives left behind in the harbors of Chittagong and Chalna.
The first leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, visited Moscow in 1972. Many important officials from both countries also visited each other's nations until 1975. The Soviets supported Bangladesh's plans for its economy and its close ties with India.
At first, the financial help from the Soviet Union was not very large. In the first four months after Bangladesh's independence, India gave Bangladesh about US$142 million in aid. The Soviet Union gave about US$6 million during the same time.
Growing Stronger: Relations in the 1980s
Relations between Bangladesh and the Soviet Union got much better in 1984. They became friendly again in the mid- and late 1980s. In 1985, the Soviet Cultural Centre in Dhaka reopened. This center helped people learn about Soviet culture.
In 1986, a special representative from the Soviet Union visited Dhaka. Later, the foreign minister of Bangladesh visited Moscow. Even though the financial help from the Soviet Union was still smaller than aid from Japan, the United States, or China, Bangladesh had made sixteen different economic agreements with the Soviet Union by 1987. Most of the Soviet help focused on energy. This included building several power plants, like the ones at Ghorasal, near Dhaka.
Images for kids
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Leaders from Russia and Bangladesh meeting in Moscow in 2013.
