This document discusses Bangladesh's relations with Russia and countries in the Middle East. It notes that Bangladesh has strong ties to the Middle East due to the large Bangladeshi diaspora living there. Bangladesh and Russia have improved their relations in recent years through arms deals and agreements on nuclear power and trade. The document also outlines Bangladesh's relationships with several Middle Eastern countries, including growing cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, and efforts to restore ties with Turkey. It stresses that Bangladesh's foreign policy needs to balance relations between Russia and the Middle East.

1. TR CHANCHAL
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA

2. Topic
 Russia Middle East

3. Introduction
 The friendship between the countries has been reinvigorated through this
visit…The people will enjoy the fruit for a long time. The friendship will become
eternal and both countries will be benefited
 The above statement of Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of
Bangladesh right after signing the arms deal on 15 January 2013 during her 4 days visit
to Moscow clearly echoed the success of the endeavor. The extension of the US $1
billion Russian loan to Bangladesh for buying arms and ammunitions, in addition to the
US $ 500 million credit in connection with Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant,
evidently marks a major breakthrough in Bangladesh-Russia relations in the post-Soviet
era
 Although Bangladesh only came into existence in 1971, the land which is today Bangladesh has
strong ties to the Middle East. Bangladeshis in the Middle East form the largest part of the worldwide
Bangladeshi Diaspora. Out of the 3,975,550 Bangladeshis abroad approximately 2,820,000 live
within the Middle East, 0.075% of the Middle East population, with half of them in Saudi Arabia, and
a quarter of them in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladeshis who come to the Middle East are
primarily guest workers or day laborers. Bangladesh is one of the largest labor suppliers to Saudi
Arabia, in 2007 Bangladeshi workers obtained the biggest share, with 23.50 per cent of the 1.5
million Saudi Arabia visas issued.

4. Bangladesh-Russia Bilateral
Relations
 Diplomatic relation established,jan25 1972
 Contribution on freedom fight
 Provide extensive aid to new nation(MIG-21),BAF
 Relation after 1975(cooled)
 Close to Western World;Arab States ,Pakistan and
China
 BD opposed(Vietnam Military support, Military
intervention on Afghan(1979),Crimea factors
 Now relations became friendly,
 Russia focus on development of(Energy, Natural
Gas and Oil also Cultural Relations)

5. Bangladesh-Russia Relationship
“new dimension”
 Arms deal 1 billion, 15 Jan 2013
 Total bilateral trade 1bn, in 2015
 Exports-About 294 million(frozen foods, jute products,
leather and ceramics products)
 Import –minerals and chemical products, metal,
machinery and mechanical equipments
 Dhaka ,Moscow sign $11.385 bn credit deal for nuclear
plant ,26 july2016-Ruppur(total 12.65 bn ,BD 10% ,1.265
bn)
 Military cooperation MG-29 fighters jets $124
million(sales)

6. Future Co-operation
.Dhaka-Moscow agreement on visa-free visit
 Russia approves granting loans to Bangladesh
 Russia bars potato from BD
 Full paid scholarships for Bangladesh students, 50 in 2015. They need
more students on the next couple of year.
 Economics and Science Technology Co-operation

7. Middle East
 BD & UAE for combating terrorism
 BD Export Unknown goods to Israel
 KSA may hire 5000,00 Bangladeshi
 KSA wants to hire Doctors
 Turkey wants to restore ties with BD
 PM Urges UAE govt to remove barriers to recruit workers

8. Cont…
 Saudi wants active role of Bangladesh
 Quarter to hire more workers
 Three lacks jobs in Dubai by 2020
 Bangladeshi farmers breed new life in Oman
 Iranian business keen to invest in BD

9. Bangladesh-KSA Relationship
 Saudi Arabia wants Bangladesh to stand by it for backing
the 34-nation Islamic military coalition and Saudi
measures against Iran. The country also expects
Bangladesh to send troops to the Kingdom if its
sovereignty and security of the two holy mosques was
threatened.

10. Bangladesh-KSA Relationship
 The KSA is keen to invest in Bangladesh's infrastructure,
communication and power sectors through the Saudi
Public Investment Fund which has not been significant
till now.
 The country decided not to join the Arab coalition
fighting in yemen.
 Saudi govt refused to intervene

11. Bangladesh-Iran Relationship
 Iran has expressed its interest to export liquefied
petroleum gas to Bangladesh.
 The delegates expressed interest to establish a
Bangladesh-Iran joint committee to facilitate Iranian
investment in infrastructure and sea port development
as well as increase existing trade with Bangladesh.

12. Bangladesh-Iran Relationship
 Bangladesh congratulated Iran on concluding the Vienna
nuclear deal and expressed optimism that
implementation of the agreement would contribute
towards “peace, stability and well-being of the people
in the region and beyond”.
 Dhaka also hoped that the agreement would bring
dynamism into Iranian economy and create new
opportunities for trade and investment for Bangladesh.

13. Bangladesh-UAE Relationship
PM urges UAE govt to remove
barriers to recruit workers
 boosting trade and investment, increasing cooperation
in the fields of education and renewable energy and
construction of a deep seaport at Paira, Patuakhali and
150 kilometer marine driveway from Teknaf to
Mirersarai in Chittagong.
 The Agreement on Security Cooperation
 The Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners

14. Bangladesh-kuwait
Relationship
 Bangladesh and Kuwait signed four agreements in the
fields of investment, military cooperation and road
communications.
 Bangladesh, Kuwait reiterate zero tolerance to
terrorism

15. Bangladesh-Turkey
Relationship
 Diplomatic scuffles began when Turkey condemned the
execution of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Nizami, who was
convicted for crimes against humanity during the 1971
Liberation War and recalled the ambassador on May 12.
 Turkey wants to restore ties with Bangladesh
 Bangladesh had helped Turkey by expressing its support
to Erdogan’s government after the failed coup
attempt.”

16. Conclusion
 Dhaka’s policies towards the Russia and
Middle East need to be balanced and
foreign policy makers may ensure that the
country does not overwhelmingly tilt to
one power at the expense of the other. It
may be recalled that the Bangabandhu’s
dream was to make Bangladesh “a
Switzerland of the East,” and policy-
makers may not deviate from the ideal
cherished by the founder of the nation.

17. Question???