DHAKA, Jan 31, 2024 (BSS)-Dhaka and Moscow today expressed keen interest to strengthen the economic ties between Bangladesh and Russia though expanding export basket and enhancing Russian investment here. 

“We have multi dimensional ties … we have discussed many issues ... how to expand our export basket, how we can increase investment here and signing of numbers of pending MoUs,” he told the reporters after holding his maiden meeting with Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky at foreign ministry here. 
     
The foreign minister said Dhaka and Moscow will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on information and communication technology.
 
Replying to a question on using of dual currency in trade with Russia, Mahmud said, Bangladesh has been discussing on trade by duel currency with numbers of country including Moscow.
  
“If we can do it with a number of countries, our dependency on one or two particular currency will lessen.

 It is not just Russia, with any country. It will be supportive for our economy,” he said.
 
Responding to a question whether they discussed on polls, the minister said, the last general election is not anymore an issue to discuss as Russia had congratulated the new Bangladesh government much earlier.

Mahmud said around 80 diplomats stationed in Dhaka including envoys of USA, UK, India, Russia, Germany and France were present to witness the opening session of the new parliament yesterday.
 
“What does it mean? As journalists, you can translate its meaning better,” he said. 
The foreign minister thanked Russia to assist Bangladesh to become a nuclear nation by constructing the country’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur. 

Mahmud said the Russian envoy conveyed that Moscow invited Bangladesh Chief Justice to visit Russia.  
     
The foreign minister recalled the role of Russia during the War of Liberation in 1971 and its support in Bangladesh’s rebuilding efforts.

The Soviet Union was also among the first few countries to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on January 25, 1972.

Earlier, after emerging from the meeting, the Russian ambassador said they had a very fruitful discussion. 

“We discussed on cooperation in the areas of political, economic, technical, cultural and science,” said the envoy. 

He said the two countries are also working in the areas of energy and food security.

Responding a question, the envoy termed BNP’s allegation that the new Bangladesh government was formed by help of foreign powers namely Russia, India and China as misleading and false.
  
“It (BNP’s allegation) is misleading or false information … don’t believe it,” he told the journalists in response to a reporter’s inquiry about the BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy’s claim. 

Gayeshwar had controversially stated that the current government was not chosen by the Bangladeshi people but was instead “installed by foreign powers,” specifically naming India, China, and Russia.

The Russian Ambassador strongly affirmed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was democratically elected by the citizens emphasized that a significant 41 percent votes were casted in the last national election.