Gazprom keen to explore 5 more gas wells in Bhola, Russian envoy tells Dr Yunus
CA Dr Yunus called on the Russian envoy to increase imports from Bangladesh, including products other than the readymade garments
Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy has said the state-run Russian energy company Gazprom is interested in exploring five more gas wells in Bhola and additional wells inland.
"Russia will continue to support Bangladesh in international fora," the envoy said during a courtesy call on Chief Adviser to the interim Bangladesh government Dr Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna.
During the meeting, he discussed the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which Bangladesh is building with technical and financial support from Russia, as well as increased cooperation on food security, energy exploration, and science and technology.
Chief Adviser Dr Yunus recalled Russia's role during Bangladesh's glorious Liberation War and its vital mine cleaning operations at Chattogram Port.
He urged the Russian envoy to increase imports from Bangladesh, including products other than the readymade garments, which constitute some 90% of Dhaka's exports to Russia. "We need to diversify our exports," he said.
Ambassador Mantytsky said Russia is a key economic partner of Bangladesh as it exports vital foodgrains and fertiliser to the country. Last year, Russia exported more than 2.3 million tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh and this year the shipment crossed 2 million tonnes.
"The construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is at the final stage and is expected to go into operation next year. Russia was also interested in exporting LNG to Bangladesh," he said.
Dr Yunus stressed widening economic and educational cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two nations.