Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin\u00a0today said Moscow has deferred the commencement of the main debt repayment\u00a0for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project by 1.5 years, with the\u00a0first installment now scheduled for September 15, 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ambassador disclosed the information at a press conference titled\u00a0\"Political outcomes of 2025\" held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in\u00a0Dhaka, where he and senior diplomats briefed on key developments in bilateral\u00a0relations, trade, energy cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The envoy said the revised repayment schedule was agreed upon in July this\u00a0year following amendments to the Intergovernmental Credit Agreement (IGCA).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The amended protocol, approved by the Ministries of Finance of both Russia\u00a0and Bangladesh, formally deferred the start of the main debt repayment by 18\u00a0months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The extension of the IGCA, along with renewal of the Letter of Credit,\u00a0ensures continuity of financial operations for the Rooppur Nuclear Power\u00a0Plant project,\" the Ambassador said, adding that it reflects Russia's\u00a0continued commitment to Bangladesh's flagship energy initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Briefing on the progress of the Rooppur NPP, Ambassador Khozin said work is\u00a0currently focused on commissioning Unit-1 of the plant, which is at the final\u00a0stage of readiness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final construction and installation works, start-up and adjustment\u00a0activities, as well as mandatory inspections and regulatory procedures, are\u00a0being carried out simultaneously, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"All necessary efforts are being made to ensure systematic progress toward\u00a0commissioning of the facility,\" the envoy continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alexander Khozin stressed that successful and timely completion of the\u00a0project is the result of coordinated work between the Russian side and the\u00a0Bangladeshi customer and supervising authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He expressed optimism that electricity generation would begin soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"As early as next year, we plan to start supplying the first megawatts of\u00a0electricity to the national grid of Bangladesh,\" he said, describing it as a\u00a0major milestone that would confirm the project's readiness for full-scale\u00a0operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding allegations of mismanagement of Rooppur project funds during the\u00a0previous government, the Ambassador said Russia does not comment on\u00a0Bangladesh's domestic political processes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he noted that transparency has been ensured throughout the project\u00a0through proper documentation, certification and verification of milestone\u00a0achievements, including equipment manufacturing and supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On broader bilateral relations, Ambassador Khozin said Bangladesh remains\u00a0Russia's second-largest trade partner in South Asia.
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Despite global challenges, bilateral trade turnover has exceeded US$2 billion\u00a0annually for the past three years, with Russia exporting machinery, wheat,\u00a0fertilizers and other agricultural products, while importing ready-made\u00a0garments and textile goods from Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia has played a consistent role in strengthening Bangladesh's food\u00a0security, noting that around two million tonnes of Russian wheat were\u00a0exported to Bangladesh in 2025, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supplies of fertilizers, including potash, as well as mustard seeds, have\u00a0also increased significantly, while exports of Russian veterinary vaccines\u00a0rose by 25 percent this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Energy cooperation continues to form the backbone of economic ties between\u00a0the two countries, the Ambassador said, highlighting Russia's involvement not\u00a0only in nuclear energy but also in gas exploration, LNG supply discussions\u00a0and renewable energy prospects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian companies, he added, are ready to invest in solar and other renewable\u00a0energy projects in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also pointed to expanding cooperation in labour migration, noting a sharp\u00a0rise in the number of work permits issued to Bangladeshi workers in Russia in\u00a0recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Education remains another traditional pillar of bilateral cooperation, with\u00a0growing interest among Bangladeshi students in pursuing higher education in\u00a0Russia, the Russian envoy added.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin\u00a0today said Moscow has deferred the commencement of the main debt repayment\u00a0for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project by 1.5 years, with the\u00a0first installment now scheduled for September 15, 2028. The Ambassador disclosed the information at a press conference titled\u00a0\"Political outcomes of 2025\" held at the Embassy of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":31697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,97,93],"tags":[54],"class_list":["post-31724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-international","category-nationwide","tag-54"],"yoast_head":"\n