Bangladesh has proposed increasing the number of its workers in Russia from nearly 10,000 to 100,000 within the next year as the two countries move to expand manpower cooperation.
The proposal was made by Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman during his three-day official visit to Russia, according to a foreign ministry statement issued in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Russian authorities agreed to work swiftly on the proposal, and both sides are expected to complete the necessary formalities in the near future. The planned tenfold increase in Bangladeshi workers emerged as one of the main outcomes of the discussions.
The two countries also agreed that bilateral trade remains well below its potential and should be expanded significantly. The foreign minister highlighted opportunities to increase Bangladeshi exports to Russia, particularly readymade garments and pharmaceutical products.
Russian officials welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal to send a business delegation to Russia in the coming weeks to explore new trade opportunities and strengthen commercial links.
Technology cooperation, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), was another key area of discussion. The foreign minister proposed a visit by a Russian delegation to Bangladesh to share expertise on the use of AI in agriculture and healthcare. The proposal received an immediate positive response.
Russia also expressed interest in supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to develop a national AI policy and establish centres of excellence in artificial intelligence.
Dr Khalilur Rahman is visiting Russia from 7 to 9 June and is accompanied by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir.
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