A Russian ship reached Bangladesh’s Mongla seaport carrying equipment for Ruppur nuclear power plant on 1 August. This is the first Russian ship that arrived in Bangladesh since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February.
The heavy load carrier/general cargo carrier, Kamilla began a journey on 28 June from Russian Tamaruk Port carrying 3,328 tonnes of machinery for the power plant.
Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa said the arrival of vessels from Russia had remained suspended during the last couple of months due to the ongoing war. He believes that after Kamilla, more ships will follow the same route, as Bangladesh and Russia have good commercial relations.
Bangladesh’s major exports to Russia include apparel items, jute, frozen foods, tea, leather, home textiles and ceramic products to Russia. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s major imports from Russia are cereals, minerals, chemical products, plastic products, metal, machinery and mechanical equipment.
The two countries have a US$1 billion annual bilateral trade with Dhaka exports to Moscow worth US$547 million, while Russian exports to Bangladesh worth US$481 million.
Sharar Nayel
Asia Correspondent
