Diplomatic Desk:
The Russian Embassy in Dhaka has described recent reports published in some Bangladeshi media outlets on the strategic cooperation in wheat trade and energy sectors between Bangladesh and Russia at the government level as ‘baseless and motivated’.
In a statement on Monday (August 17, 2026), the Russian Embassy said that these ‘biased and unsubstantiated’ claims are being made with the aim of questioning the strong bilateral relations between Russia and Bangladesh and Russia’s long-standing contribution to Bangladesh’s food and energy security.
The statement said that all types of wheat procurement activities between the governments of Bangladesh and Russia are conducted through designated state institutions with complete transparency and in accordance with international commercial standards. In these agreements concluded under an intergovernmental framework, there is no scope for unauthorized third parties or intermediaries to influence the price setting. The implementation of the agreements is carried out under the direct supervision of the government authorities of the two countries concerned.
The Russian Embassy further stated that all agricultural products exported from Russia undergo strict quality control in accordance with international phytosanitary standards and the technical conditions set by Bangladesh. Before the goods are unloaded at Chittagong Port, the quality is verified by the relevant Russian state inspection agencies. After reaching Bangladesh, physical and laboratory tests of the products are completed by the Food Department and the Port Authority.
As a result, the embassy claimed that there is no basis for the allegations of low-quality or defective wheat supply from Russia. At the same time, the allegations made about the source of the wheat shipment were also stated to be ‘completely baseless’. The embassy claimed that Russia exports wheat collected from legal domestic agricultural sectors in full compliance with international law.
The statement also highlighted the issue of Bangladesh-Russia energy cooperation. Noting that the Russian state nuclear energy agency Rosatom and its associated contractors are implementing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the embassy said that the project is being implemented following international standards of technology, financial management and safety standards. It has also been claimed that there is no scope for unauthorized external interference or financial irregularities.
In addition, mentioning Gazprom’s role in Bangladesh’s energy sector since 2012, the embassy said that Gazprom EP International has been playing a positive and constructive role in increasing Bangladesh’s domestic energy capacity. The company has completed drilling more than 20 gas wells in various important areas, including Bhola, which is helping to increase the country’s gas production and meet the needs of the industrial and power sectors.
The Russian embassy said that Russia considers Bangladesh an important and reliable strategic partner. Despite global economic changes and concerns about energy security, Russia is committed to providing Bangladesh with high-quality agricultural products and energy sector expertise on fair and equitable terms.
In the final part of the statement, the Russian embassy called on the Bangladeshi media to exercise professional caution and publish news based on verified information. At the same time, it has also emphasized that the long-standing friendly and commercial relations between the two countries should not be damaged by any kind of misleading information.
