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Is Bangladesh becoming a Russian proxy state?

BanglaBhoot

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BD mulls signing 13 deals during PM's Russia visit

Hasina to seek apparel items' duty-free access

Published : Saturday, 15 December 2012

Syful Islam

Bangladesh is moving forward to sign 13 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Russia visit next month, aiming to boost bilateral trade and other cooperation, sources said.

Drafts of most of the agreements and MoUs are at different stages of finalisation, they added.

Sources said during her visit the Prime Minister will seek duty-free access of Bangladeshi apparel items to the Russian Federation. Besides, she will seek Russian assistance in providing technical support for telecommunication sector and satellite launching as well as in importing wheat and fertiliser from there.

The two sides are scheduled to sign agreements on cooperation in promotion and protection of investments, extension of a state export credit for financing the preparatory stage of nuclear power plant construction in Bangladesh, and extension of credit for purchase of defence equipment.

Besides, signing of agreements on cooperation in establishing a nuclear industry information centre in Bangladesh, and visa-free visit for holders of diplomatic and service (official) passports are also on the list.

Sources said the two nations are also mulling signing of MoUs on collaboration in combating terrorism, and in the fields of education, agriculture, wheat trade, healthcare and medical sciences, and cultural exchange.

MoUs between Petrobangla and Gazprom, and law and justice ministries of the two countries are also likely to be signed.

Last year, Bangladesh signed an agreement with Russia for setting up a nuclear power plant having a generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Russia assured Bangladesh in principle to fund the project cost. Some US$ 2.0 billion will be required to build a nuclear plant with a capacity of generating 1,000 mw of electricity.

Bangladesh's cabinet in January approved engaging Russian company Gazprom in drilling 10 gas wells, which has already started civil works for the same.

Bilateral trade between the nations is still very meagre with annual trade remaining below $300 million, though some Bangladeshi items, including jute and jute goods, shrimps, tea, silk, and rice, enjoy tariff preference in the Russian market.

Financial Express :: Financial Newspaper of Bangladesh
 
Common Munshi.....This is a business deal...I feel if these deals are beneficial to BD, then you should be happy about it...And apart from that Russia is always aligns itself with Islamic nations...So politically you are going to gain more in case of dealing with Russia....But again...if you have any different perspective to this deal, then i am interested to know more about it..
 
This is the latest in a series of deals with Russia ...... Hasina is looking for cover and protection and a counter to the United States. Western countries have opposed Bangladesh satellite launch and were against the country having a nuclear power plant which are now all being provided by Russia.
 
Munshi-bhai, you should be proud that Bangladesh is courting not one, but many allies .
US & European garment industry has already put a lot of focus on Bangladesh's prowess in the field (though a lot remains to be achieved). Pakistani investors in textile & yarn field have already put up offices in Bangladesh and are reaping the benefits of its eastern ally. China is already seen openly as a bigger ally in all terms of strategic counterbalance to its western neighbor. And now Russia.

Just make sure that those Russians don't invade Cox Bazaar and set up their drug peddling operations - like the way they have invaded Goa to a point where the situation is now akin to 'colonisation' .
 
Dhaka-Washington distance widening

An apparent distance between Dhaka and Washington is widening following some recent activities and policy of the government. Not allowing US representatives to meet the policymakers and statements made by the ruling-party leaders have aggravated the situation.

Some former diplomats opined that country’s remittance income and garment export as well as the economy at large may take a knock if the differences keep widening. Readymade garments (RMG), bank, insurance and shipping sectors will be affected severely in that eventuality.

A gap in relations between the two countries has been prevailing for three years over a number of issues. The reasons include government’s harsh stand towards Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, his Grameen Bank and refusal to sign Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA). The other reasons are preventing recent Rohingya influx, banning activities of some NGOs which were patronising Rohingya refugees in Chittagong, not improving working environment for RMG workers and salaries and not punishing killers of RMG union leader Aminul.

United States Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan W Mozena was reportedly not allowed to meet Prime Minister Sheikh although he had tried for four months.

Besides, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake did not get appointment with the premier during his recent visit to Dhaka.

But government and diplomatic sources said the US embassy has contact with Prime Minister’s Office and foreign ministry.

Former foreign secretary Faruq Choudhury said the country’s economic and diplomatic relations with the USA are wide and vast. Thousands of Bangladeshis are staying in the USA. Many of them got citizenship there. The USA considers Bangladesh as an important country. The United States is a democratic country. Bangladesh should shun the confrontational politics and follow democratic politics like that country.

“There is no substantial reason for deterioration of the country’s relations with the USA. There may be some misunderstanding which should be repaired,” the noted diplomat said.

CM Shafi Sami, another former foreign secretary, said it is not always possible for the country to maintain bilateral relations. “Whenever relation deteriorates, it should be mended through dialogue.”

He said Bangladesh should narrow the distance with the USA with wisdom and diplomatic strategy as the latter’s market is important for the former.

daily sun | First Page | Dhaka-Washington distance widening
 
Geez,These Bangladeshis are so paranoid.:cheesy:
Have some self esteem people!!!
 
Don't be so naive.Its not a zero sum game.This is not cold war.
You can't keep US out by signing some MoU's with Russia.Most of them seems to be related to trade.

I was being sardonic .....

A thread is already running. No need to open same thread with changing title...

http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangladesh-defence/224581-bangladesh-may-sign-13-deals-russia.html

Yea but that didn't get any comments. The story is more than the title which may not reflect the substance of the issue .....
 
I was being sardonic .....

joker_by_sardonic_kyo.jpg


LOL,You are not funny or cynical enough to be Sardonic.
 

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