Russian Ambassador in Dhaka Alexander G. Khozin, in an interview with Daily Industry, said that the labour market in Russia is expected to grow in the coming days. To enable Russian companies to hire expatriate workers, the Russian government has increased the quota for recruiting skilled workers from non-CIS countries this year. These countries will have a quota of sending 235,000 skilled workers to Russia in 2025, compared to 156,000 in 2024.
Q: What are your perceptions about Bangladesh's culture and heritage?
Khozin: Bangladesh is famous for its rich and diverse culture, deeply rooted in history and influenced by a blend of religious and ethnic traditions. Bengali cultural heritage includes traditional music and dance, various festivals, authentic cuisine and clothing, as well as numerous religious practices. Bangladesh is the motherland of many talented artisans who possess unique traditional craftsmanship such as weaving (Jamdani sarees), pottery, terracotta sculpture, and Nakshi Kantha embroidery.
The Bengali language is central to Bangladeshi identity. Thanks to your country, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day on February 21. Bengali literature is a true heritage of Bangladeshi people. Writings by eminent poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam are quoted worldwide. Notably, Tagore’s works are translated into many languages, including Russian.
Bangladeshi dancers regularly perform at the Russian House in Dhaka, mesmerizing audiences with vibrant and expressive choreography. The local cinema industry is undergoing a vibrant renaissance. Bangladeshi films, such as Nirvana by Asif Islam, are being recognised at international film festivals in Russia. Every year, talented photojournalists from Bangladesh win the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest. Their works, capturing the essence of everyday life and human emotions, demonstrate exceptional skills and broad visual understanding.
This year, I had the chance to visit the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest mangrove forests. It was an unforgettable experience. The variety of flora and fauna impressed me immensely. I learned about many rare inhabitants, including endangered Royal Bengal tigers, Ganges dolphins, crocodiles, and various species of birds and fish.
Q: How do you assess bilateral trade relations?
Khozin: Over the past decade, trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh have developed significantly. Bangladesh is our second-largest trade partner in South Asia. In 2024, despite global challenges, our bilateral trade turnover exceeded 2 billion USD.
The majority of Bangladeshi exports to Russia consist of ready-made garments. However, there is significant potential to diversify exports into pharmaceuticals, seafood, jute, leather products, fruits, and vegetables.
Russia mainly exports machinery and agricultural products to Bangladesh. Food supplies are a vital component of our bilateral trade. In 2024, Russian agricultural exports to Bangladesh grew by 44%, surpassing 1 billion USD. Bangladesh is now one of the top ten largest buyers of Russian food products—particularly wheat, peas, and mustard seeds.
Last year, Russia shipped 3.9 million tonnes of wheat (45% more than in 2023) and 237,000 tonnes of legumes (a threefold increase). Since 2023, the Russian company Uva-Moloko has been supplying dry milk to Bangladesh, with plans to scale up deliveries to 6,000 tonnes annually by 2026. To support Bangladesh's domestic agricultural sector, Russian manufacturers also offer a range of fertilizers.
Many Russian companies are interested in supplying LNG, oil, petrochemicals, steel, rolled metal, ICT products, and services.
To maintain this positive momentum, we must focus on strengthening B2B relations. Business communities from both countries should seek direct contacts, including through participation in forums such as the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, Eastern Economic Forum, and Russia—Islamic World: KazanForum. Exploring new payment mechanisms and supply routes is also essential. Opening a branch of a Russian bank in Bangladesh would benefit both sides.
Q: What’s the current progress of the Rooppur NPP?
Khozin: As President Vladimir Putin mentioned during the first fuel delivery ceremony in October 2023, Rosatom builds nuclear power plants using advanced engineering and the highest safety and environmental standards.
Significant progress has been made at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Construction of Unit 1 is complete, and commissioning is now underway. The unit is being prepared for fuel loading and physical start-up, expected within a few months. Unit 2 is in its final stage of construction and was recently connected to the 10 kW electric line, meaning the unit is now “alive.”
Russian State Corporation Rosatom is fully committed to commissioning the NPP on schedule.
Our Bangladeshi colleagues are making a vital contribution. Currently, 15,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed at the site, and 20,000 jobs will be created in total. Over 6,400 individuals have received short- or long-term education in Russia to support this project. In April 2025, two Bangladeshi welders—Abdul Khalek and Abdul Sattar—won gold and silver medals at Russia’s AtomSkills competition.
Rooppur NPP will supply 2,400 MW of electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid—around 15% of current peak demand. Unlike conventional plants, Rooppur needs refueling only once every 1.5 years, under long-term contracts that ensure stable supply.
Q: What’s your take on the Bangladesh Investment Summit?
Khozin: The April 2024 Bangladesh Investment Summit in Dhaka welcomed participants from over 50 countries. It provided an excellent platform for exploring opportunities in one of the world’s most promising emerging markets, known for economic resilience and investor confidence.
Bangladesh offers significant investment prospects thanks to its youthful, tech-savvy population, strategic location, large consumer base, and growing middle class.
Russia is one of Bangladesh’s major investors. Rooppur NPP is our flagship joint venture, and implementation is on track. Physical start-up of the first reactor is scheduled for later this year.
We also see potential in the gas sector. Gazprom International Limited has completed drilling of over 20 wells and is well-positioned to continue. Russian firms are also interested in Bangladesh’s Earth remote sensing system and renewable energy projects.
Q: How does the Russian government view Bangladesh’s socio-economic status?
Khozin: As an ambassador, I do not analyse the socio-economic status of the host country. However, I can share some common global concerns.
Firstly, economic inequality remains a challenge. Despite global GDP growth, disparities between and within countries continue to rise, creating social tension and political instability.
Secondly, geopolitical instability, often fuelled by Western nations and sanctions bypassing the UN, disrupts global trade and undermines trust. For example, EU’s losses from economic restrictions against Russia in 2023 were around $1.5 trillion. The freezing of our gold and foreign exchange reserves has led many countries to move savings into gold bars and adopt non-dollar and non-euro currencies.
Demographic shifts—ageing populations in developed nations and population growth in developing ones—are also shaping labour markets, pensions, and consumption.
Lastly, digitalisation, including AI, blockchain, and IoT, creates both opportunities and challenges, such as the need for workforce retraining and enhanced cybersecurity.
Q: How many Bangladeshis are in Russia, and what are their contributions?
Khozin: An estimated several thousand Bangladeshis live in Russia, mainly for employment and education. Bangladesh is emerging as a promising source of skilled labour.
In 2024, 2,777 Bangladeshi migrants received Russian work permits—up from just 115 in 2023. Many are employed at the Amur Gas and Chemical Complex, Livadia Ship Repair Plant, and Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex.
Each year, hundreds of Bangladeshi students pursue higher education in Russia. In the 2024–25 academic year, 124 students received government-funded scholarships. Many others study privately. Popular fields include medicine, engineering, and business administration.
We value the contributions of individuals like Sattar Mia, President of the Russian Society for Friendship with Bangladesh, who promotes education and cultural ties.
Q: Will Russia recruit more migrants?
Khozin: Yes. Russia expects growing demand for labour. The Ministry of Labour has increased the quota for non-CIS skilled workers to 235,000 in 2025, up from 156,000.
These workers will support large infrastructure and industrial projects, especially in sectors with low competition such as construction, manufacturing, transport, and retail.
Legal and safe recruitment remains crucial. A Bangladeshi worker must first receive a job offer and entry invitation, then apply for a work visa at the Russian Embassy in Dhaka. Employers are responsible for obtaining work permits and registering workers with the migration authorities.
Q: What is Russia’s stance on Palestine?
Khozin: This is a complex matter. If you examine the map, very little remains of the territory meant for a Palestinian state, especially in the West Bank. Israeli settlements there are unrecognised by international law.
Russia is concerned by the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Our position is firm: the conflict must be resolved through peaceful, diplomatic means, based on UN Security Council resolutions calling for an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace alongside Israel.
The situation in Palestine exposes double standards by the West—highlighting their inconsistent actions between the Ukraine crisis and the Middle East. Western powers often exploit the Ukrainian issue while ignoring growing tensions in the Arab-Israeli region.
Q: Can Russia offer more scholarships to Bangladeshi students?
Khozin: Russian education is globally respected for its strong academic and research tradition. It integrates cutting-edge technologies and offers practice-oriented learning. Russia is a global leader in training scientists, engineers, doctors, and IT professionals. Our universities consistently rank among the world’s best.
Russian universities offer much lower tuition fees than those in the USA, Canada, or the UK. The Russian government provides scholarships for bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, residency, and specialist degrees.
In the last academic year, 124 Bangladeshi students received fully funded scholarships—14 more than the previous year. The next admission campaign begins this autumn.
I encourage applicants to follow the Russian House in Dhaka’s social media pages and attend their seminars for guidance. Please note: the Russian House is the only authorised body for distributing scholarships to Bangladeshi students.
