Bangladesh seeks support from Russia to ensure wheat and fertilizer imports

Bangladesh has formally sought Russia’s collaboration to ensure food security and acquire essential agricultural inputs, including fertilizers. This initiative is part of Dhaka’s broader strategy to strengthen its agricultural sector.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Alexei Overchuk, expressed Russia’s readiness to increase exports of wheat and fertilizers to Bangladesh. His remarks came during a dialogue with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus at the Boao Forum for Asia Conference held in Boao, Hainan Province. The discussions between the two officials covered various topics of mutual interest, such as the operational aspects of the Russian-funded Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh’s procurement plans for Russian wheat and fertilizers, and the ongoing natural gas exploration by Gazprom in Bangladesh.

After these talks, Chief Adviser Yunus confirmed that Bangladesh intends to augment its imports of these vital commodities from Russia to bolster national food security.

In a related development, the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Khozin, reiterated Moscow’s commitment to supporting Dhaka’s aspirations towards becoming a prosperous nation. He highlighted the multifaceted nature of the bilateral relationship, emphasizing mutual respect, affinity, and understanding. Ambassador Khozin praised Bangladesh for its exemplary achievements in various sectors, including poverty alleviation, climate action, educational promotion, women’s empowerment, and enhancing regional connectivity.

Last week, the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) in Bangladesh approved several procurement proposals to meet the country’s domestic needs. Notably, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) is set to import 30,000 metric tonnes of muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizer from Russia’s JSC Foreign Economic Corporation “Prodintorg” under a governmental agreement valued at approximately 1,120 million Bangladeshi taka ($9.2 million).

Additionally, the BADC will procure 40,000 metric tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer from MA’ADEN, based in Saudi Arabia, in a deal worth 3,060 million Bangladeshi taka ($25 million). These moves are indicative of Bangladesh’s proactive approach to securing the necessary resources to support its agricultural development and economic growth.