Diplomatic Correspondent :
Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy on Thursday expressed their gratitude to Bangladesh for playing neutral role in the United Nations voting over Ukraine resolution.
“We are expressing our gratitude to Bangladesh for its neutral position despite vehement pressure during the UN voting,” he said in a press conference at the Russian Embassy in the capital.
Replying to a query over Bangladesh neutral role in UN voting, he lauded that Bangladesh played a ‘responsible and balanced’ role.
The ambassador further pointed out that the sanctions of Washington have not only put Russia under threat, but also its allies including Bangladesh.
Russian Ambassador also said both Dhaka and Moscow are jointly working on multidimensional assistances to tackle the situation.
About the completion of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the envoy said, “We understand, Bangladesh is in anxiety about the Power Plant in the prevailing situation. Everything is going on smoothly till now. The project will be completed as per the previous schedule.”
Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, United States and European Union have imposed moratorium over the financial transaction through SWIFT system, triggering an uncertainty of transaction between Russian and Bangladesh.
“Last week Bangladesh ambassador to Russia proposed for barter transaction. Both the countries are at the discussion table to sort out alternatives for smooth banking transactions, including barter, transaction through any third country,” he noted.
Expressing his government’s interest in Bangladesh, the envoy said, “Russia is interested in increasing its trades and commerce with Bangladesh, not to decrease it.”
“Right now many organisations have wrapped up their businesses with Russia due to the western pressure. It has created a great opportunity for Russian allies like Bangladesh,” he continued.
Pointing out the excessive price hike of potassium fertiliser due to sanctions on Russia and Belarus, the Ambassador said, “The major suppliers of potassium fertiliser, which play a vital role in agricultural produce, are Russia and Belarus.
Brushing aside the negative impact on the economy due to Western sanctions, Mantytskiy said, Russian economy will not collapse due to the sanctions. “Russia faced such problems in the past. It will again rise up venturing the current situation.”
Replying to a query about the US pressure on Bangladesh in joining the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), the Ambassador said, “This is solely the internal issue of Bangladesh. We don’t interfere in this issue.”
On the repatriation of Rohingya, he said, the matter should be resolved through dialogue between the two countries.
Regarding the Russian onslaught on Ukraine, he said, Russia faced security threats with the increasing expansion of NATO in Europe.
