preparation for Russian foreign minister's visit

Ministry discusses 17 draft deals

The government is taking necessary preparations for the visit of Russian foreign minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov. According to foreign ministry officials, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov is likely to visit Bangladesh soon. The foreign affairs ministry has recently held a meeting with the secretaries of the ministries and divisions concerned to review the bilateral issues with Russia and discussed 17 draft bilateral deals. Pending issues were also discussed at the meeting.

Kamrul Ahsan, secretary for bilateral and consular affairs (Europe, Africa and the Americas) in the foreign ministry, said the Russian foreign minister is likely to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time this year.

However, no dates have been fixed in this regard yet, he noted.

“Yes, we have held meeting with the officials of the ministries and divisions concerned to know the latest position of the bilateral issues and pending issues,” he said. “We want to prepare beforehand to avert any problem during the sudden visit of any high-profile person,” he added.

Sources said the foreign ministry has discussed about 17 draft agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), which are likely to be signed during the visit of the Russian foreign minister.

The draft agreements and MoUs are: a draft agreement between Bangladesh and Russia on extradition; a draft agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons; a draft agreement on readmission with implementing protocol; a draft agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Bangladesh and Russia; a draft agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investment; a draft agreement on mutual protection of classified information; a draft agreement on mutual recognition of education, qualification, and academic degree; a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of maritime transport; a draft agreement on mutual protection of intellectual property in the course of bilateral military and technical cooperation; a draft agreement on cultural cooperation; a draft MoU in the field of communications and information technology; a draft MoU between the science and technology ministry of Bangladesh and the education and science ministry of Russia on cooperation of science and technology; a draft MoU on temporary works of citizens of one state in the territory of the other; a draft protocol between the federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance of the Russian Federation and the Department of Agricultural Extension of Bangladesh; and a draft protocol between the federal customs service and the competent body of Bangladesh on exchange of documents and data on the customs value of goods transported between the Russian Federation and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had visited Russia in April this year and held meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow. Various bilateral issues came up in their discussion.

Momen had briefed Lavrov on the status of forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens known as Rohingyas.

He had invited Lavrov to visit Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Inter-govermental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation is likely to visit Moscow in mid-July to review the ongoing bilateral issues.

preparation for Russian foreign ministers visit

Ministry discusses 17 draft deals

The government is taking necessary preparations for the visit of Russian foreign minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov. According to foreign ministry officials, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov is likely to visit Bangladesh soon. The foreign affairs ministry has recently held a meeting with the secretaries of the ministries and divisions concerned to review the bilateral issues with Russia and discussed 17 draft bilateral deals. Pending issues were also discussed at the meeting. Kamrul Ahsan, secretary for bilateral and consular affairs (Europe, Africa and the Americas) in the foreign ministry, said the Russian foreign minister is likely to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time this year. However, no dates have been fixed in this regard yet, he noted. Yes, we have held meeting with the officials of the ministries and divisions concerned to know the latest position of the bilateral issues and pending issues, he said. We want to prepare beforehand to avert any problem during the sudden visit of any high-profile person, he added. Sources said the foreign ministry has discussed about 17 draft agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), which are likely to be signed during the visit of the Russian foreign minister. The draft agreements and MoUs are: a draft agreement between Bangladesh and Russia on extradition; a draft agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons; a draft agreement on readmission with implementing protocol; a draft agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Bangladesh and Russia; a draft agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investment; a draft agreement on mutual protection of classified information; a draft agreement on mutual recognition of education, qualification, and academic degree; a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of maritime transport; a draft agreement on mutual protection of intellectual property in the course of bilateral military and technical cooperation; a draft agreement on cultural cooperation; a draft MoU in the field of communications and information technology; a draft MoU between the science and technology ministry of Bangladesh and the education and science ministry of Russia on cooperation of science and technology; a draft MoU on temporary works of citizens of one state in the territory of the other; a draft protocol between the federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance of the Russian Federation and the Department of Agricultural Extension of Bangladesh; and a draft protocol between the federal customs service and the competent body of Bangladesh on exchange of documents and data on the customs value of goods transported between the Russian Federation and Bangladesh. Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had visited Russia in April this year and held meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow. Various bilateral issues came up in their discussion. Momen had briefed Lavrov on the status of forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens known as Rohingyas. He had invited Lavrov to visit Bangladesh. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Inter-govermental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation is likely to visit Moscow in mid-July to review the ongoing bilateral issues.