Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander G. Khozin said that labour market in Russia is expected to grow in the coming days. To enable the Russian companies to hire expat workers, the Russian government has increased the quota of recruiting skilled workers in case of non-CIS countries this year.
The non-CIS countries will have a quota of sending 235,000 skilled workers to Russia in 2025 compared to 156,000 skilled workers The rest part of the interview is given below:
What are your perceptions about Bangladesh culture and heritage? Bangladesh is famous for its rich and diverse culture that is deeply rooted in the history and influenced by a blend of religious and ethnic traditions. Bengali cultural heritage includes traditional music and dance, various festivals, authentic cuisine and clothing, as well as numerous religious practices. Bangladesh is a motherland of many talented artisans who know unique traditional crafts such as weaving (Jamdani sarees), pottery, terracotta sculpture, and Nakshi Kantha embroidery. The Bengali language is central to Bangladeshi identity. Thanks to your country, on February 21 the whole world celebrates International Mother Language Day. Bengali literature is a true heritage of Bangladeshi people. Writings by eminent poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam are quoted worldwide. Notably, that Tagore’s works are translated into many languages, including Russian.
Bangladeshi dancers regularly perform on the stage of the Russian House in Dhaka, mesmerizing the audience with vibrant and expressive choreography. Local cinema industry is going through a vibrant renaissance. Bangladeshi films are awarded at numerous international film festivals in Russia (for example, “Nirvana” by Asif Islam). Every year talented photojournalists from Bangladesh win the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest. Their works, capturing the essence of everyday life and human emotions, demonstrate exceptional skills and broad visual erudition of the authors. This year I had a chance to visit Bangladeshi national treasure Shundorbon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest mangrove forests. It was an unforgettable experience. Variety of flora and fauna impressed me a lot. I got to know about many rare inhabitants, including endangered Royal Bengal tigers and Ganges dolphins, crocodiles and various kinds of birds and fish.
During the recent decade, the multifaceted trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh have been developing upward. Your country is our second largest trade partner in South Asia. In 2024, despite the existing global hindrances the turnover exceeded 2 billion US dollars. Of course, the lion’s share of what Bangladesh exports to Russia is ready-made garments. Still, there is significant potential to diversify exports into pharmaceuticals, seafood, jute, leather products, fruits and vegetables.
Russia mainly exports machinery and agricultural products to Bangladesh. Food supplies constitute an essential part of bilateral trade. In 2024, Russian agricultural exports to Bangladesh grew by 44 % and exceeded one billion USD. Thanks to this dynamic, the country has become one of the top ten largest buyers of Russian food products – wheat, peas, and mustard seeds. Last year Russia shipped 3.9 million tons of wheat, which is 45 % more than in 2023, 237 thousand tons of legumes (threefold increase). Since 2023, the Russian company Uva-Moloko has been supplying dry milk to Bangladesh and plans to increase the volume several times during 2025–2026, up to 6 thousand tons per year. In order to support Bangladesh domestic agricultural sector, Russian manufacturers offer various fertilizers. There are many Russian companies interested in supplying LNG, oil, petrochemicals, steel, rolled metal, ICT products and services. In order to keep up this positive dynamics, we should give special importance to stronger B2B ties. Both business communities should seek direct contacts, including by participating in various events, such as Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum, Eastern Economic Forum, or Russia —
Islamic World: KazanForum. At the same time, it is essential to explore new payment facilities and supply routes. In this context, a branch of a Russian bank in Bangladesh would serve the interests of both sides.
As Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said during the solemn ceremony of the first fuel delivery in October, 2023, Rosatom builds nuclear power plants utilising the most advanced engineering solutions and technologies based on the most stringent safety standards as well as on environmental and conservation requirements.
Significant progress has been made in the construction of the country’s maiden nuclear plant –
Rooppur NPP. The construction works at the Unit 1 are over, now commissioning operations are underway. The unit is being prepared for the fuel loading and physical start up which is going to take place within few months. The Unit 2 is at the final stage of construction. This May it got connected to the 10 kW electric line – the Unit is now ‘alive’. It needs to be emphasized that Russian State Corporation “Rosatom” spares no effort in order to commission the NPP within the scheduled timeframe.
Our Bangladeshi colleagues are making significant contribution to the project’s timely implementation. Around 15 thousand Bangladeshi people are currently working at the Rooppur NPP site, and in general about 20 thousand workplaces will be created in the future. More than 6400 people have already completed their education in Russia, be it short-term courses or academic degrees. Moreover, some Bangladeshi employees have acquired outstanding, award-winning skills. For example, in April this year Rooppur NPP team took part in the professional competition AtomSkills-2025 which took place in Russia’s industrial capital – Yekaterinburg. Two Bangladeshi welders – Abdul Khalek and Abdul Sattar – took gold and silver respectively. Hopefully, soon we will be ready to supply stable ‘green’ electricity to the people of Bangladesh. According to a recent report by local media, this year the peak demand for electricity stood at 16477 MW. Rooppur NPP will add 2400 MW to the national grid, therefore, accounting for almost 15% of the peak demand. What is more, the existing power plants in Bangladesh have been criticized for the lack of sustainable fuel supply (installed capacity is way higher than the actual demand). However, this is not the case of Rooppur NPP as it requires fuel loading only once in 1.5 years and the fuel will be supplied on the basis of long-term contracts.
How do you see the success of the recent Bangladesh Investment Summit? The April Bangladesh Investment Summit in Dhaka brought together foreign participants from over 50 countries. The event provided a platform for exploring opportunities in one of the world’s most promising emerging markets, characterized by economic resilience and investor confidence. Bangladesh offers significant investment opportunities. The country’s youthful and tech-savvy population, its strategic location and sizable consumer market, and its representatives, who are increasingly middle-class, are the drivers of potential growth. The Russian Federation is one of the prominent investors in Bangladesh. The construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is our flagship joint project. The implementation process is progressing in line with the established schedule. The physical start-up of the first nuclear reactor is scheduled for the end of this year.
There are prospects for continued cooperation in the gas sector. Gazprom International Limited has successfully completed drilling operations on more than 20 wells, and is well prepared to continue this work. Russian companies are interested in participating in the Earth remote sensing system project in Bangladesh, and renewable energy projects.
How does Russian government assess the socio-economic status of Bangladesh?
An ambassador, as a representative of his or her home country, typically does not provide an analysis of the socio-economic status of the host country. I will focus only on the general socio-economic problems faced by most states.
First, it is economic inequality. Despite global GDP growth, inequality continues to increase between and within countries. This creates social tension and can lead to political instability. Second, geopolitical instability. Conflicts, provoked by Western countries, and illegal sanctions, imposed by them bypassing the UN Security Council, affect economic ties between states, leading to disruptions in trade and a decline in trust between regions. For instance, the total losses only in 2023 incurred by the European Union as a result of restrictions against Russia and decisions to curtail economic activity with our country amount to approximately $1.5 trillion. The “freezing” of a significant proportion of Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves has prompted many states to reconsider their strategies in this area. In particular, countries, seeking to pursue independent policies, are actively returning to storing their savings in the form of gold bars. The share of currencies other than the dollar and euro is increasing in international settlements. The energy market is in a state of uncertainty, which is having an impact on the global economy, too. Please be aware of the following changes to the demographics: the ageing population in developed countries and population growth in developing countries are affecting the labour market, pension systems, and demand for goods and services.
Finally, it is digitalization. The development of technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things creates new challenges, including cybersecurity and the need to retrain the workforce.
At a rough estimate, at least several thousand Bangladeshi nationals live in Russia. They come for different reasons, mainly for employment and education. For us, Bangladesh is a new but promising source of labour force. In 2024, we saw a drastic increase in the number of work permits granted for Bangladeshi migrants — 2777, with only 115 in 2023. They are employed at the Amur Gas and Chemical Complex, “Livadia” Ship Repair and Shipbuilding Plant, “Zvezda” Shipbuilding Complex. Every year hundreds of young and aspiring Bangladeshis go to Russia for higher education. In 2024/25 academic year, 124 Bangladeshi students received scholarships funded by the Russian Government. The number of students studying on a commercial basis at their own expense is several times higher. The most popular areas of study are general medicine, engineering, and business administration.
In this context, it is worth mentioning Sattar Mia, President of the Russian Society for Friendship with Bangladesh, who makes tangible contribution to stronger bilateral relations through various economic, cultural and education projects and programs.
Can Russia recruit more migrants?
The demand for workforce in Russia is expected to grow in the near future. To enable Russian companies to hire more foreigners, the Ministry of Labour has increased the quota for recruiting skilled workers from non-CIS countries: in 2025, 235,000 permits will be issued (compared to 156,000 the year before). A significant portion of these are reserved for hiring workers on large infrastructure projects and in the industrial sector. Top sectors with low competition are construction, manufacturing, transport and retail.
At the same time, ensuring safe and legal recruitment practices remains crucial. To get a job in Russia, a Bangladeshi worker must first obtain an entry invitation from their future employer and apply for a work visa at the Russian Embassy in Dhaka. The employer will ensure that the employee is issued with a work permit and registered with the migration authorities. How does Russia see the Palestine situation?
This is a complex matter. If you look at the map, you’ll see that little is left of the territories where
the Palestinian state should be created (especially on the West Bank of the Jordan River). Unilateral
actions by the Israeli authorities have led to building settlements there. They are not recognized by the laws of any country.
Russia is concerned over a sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation. Our principled and consistent stance is that this conflict, which has continued for 75 years, cannot be resolved by force and can be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic means, by engaging in a full-fledged negotiation process based on the well-known UN Security Council resolutions stipulating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with a capital in East Jerusalem that co-exists with Israel in peace and security.
The situation in Palestine demonstrates the collective West’s double standards and the lack of any justification for its actions in Ukraine, on the one hand, and in the Middle East, on the other. Western liberals and Anglo-Saxons, in particular, in the spirit of the best traditions of neocolonialism, grossly speculate on the Ukrainian issue while ignoring the unprecedented rise in tension and violence in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone.
Can Russia give more scholarships to Bangladeshi students?
Russian education is well-regarded globally, with strong academic traditions and research excellence. It incorporates advanced technologies into educational process and ensures a practice-oriented approach. Our country is a recognized leader in the training of mathematicians, physicists, chemists, engineers, programmers, doctors. Every year our universities occupy leading positions in world rankings.
Tuition fees at Russian universities are significantly lower than at those in the USA, Canada and the UK. At the same time, the Russian Government offers scholarships for bachelor’s, master’s, specialist degrees, residency and PhD programs. Last academic year, 124 Bangladeshi students received government-funded scholarships, which is 14 higher than the year before. New admission campaign will start this autumn.
My advice to applicants would be to monitor the social media pages of the Russian House in Dhaka and attend their seminars to learn more about the admission process. I would like to remind that the Russian House is the only authorized organization to provide scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
