Staff Correspondent

Russia has sought the cooperation of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to continue the work of Russian state-owned Gazprom International in gas exploration in Bangladesh.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khozin made the request when he called on the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna here today, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said.

Gazprom has been present in Bangladesh since 2012 and working as a partner in exploring gas reserves. In 2023, Gazprom International discovered five new wells for further exploration in Bhola.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus thanked Gazprom for the necessary preparations for drilling five wells in Bhola and informed that the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources was working on the issue.

During the meeting, the Russian envoy also discussed various issues including general and trade cooperation, Abul Kalam Azad said.

Supply of Russian wheat to Bangladesh reached an all-time high in 2024, making the country the second-largest consumer of Russian grain after Egypt.

From July 2024 to January 2025, about 2.3 million tonnes of Russian wheat reached Bangladesh, including 623 thousand tonnes through G2G contracts.

The ambassador informed that Russia is also preparing to supply 30,000 tonnes of MOP fertilizer to Bangladesh as a gesture of friendship.

He also informed the Chief Adviser of a significant rise in the number of visas issued to Bangladeshis who found Russia as a new job destination in the fields of agriculture and shipbuilding.

The number of visas issued in January-March 2025 rose fourfold compared to the number of visas issued during the corresponding period of last year.

The Chief Adviser thanked Russia for being with Bangladesh during the critical time of the post-liberation war.