The 53rd anniversary of Bangladesh-Russia diplomatic relations was celebrated Friday evening with a grand event at the historic Gostiny Dvor Hall in Moscow.

Organized by the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh and the Russian Association for International Cooperation, the program featured a discussion session and a cultural presentation.

The event emphasized strengthening bilateral ties, fostering trade relations, promoting cultural exchanges, and enhancing public diplomacy between the two nations. Speakers also highlighted efforts to position Russia as a strategic development partner for Bangladesh.

Key speakers included Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Yurevich Rudenko, the State Duma Committee on International Affairs’s First Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Bangladesh, Zhurova Svetlana Sergeevna. Mia Sattar, President of the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh, and Vladimir Mikhailovich Polozkov, Secretary-General of the Russian Association for International Cooperation, also addressed the gathering.

In a video message, Russia’s newly appointed ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Khozin, reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Dhaka.

Speakers reflected on the enduring friendship between the two nations, describing Russia as an “all-weather friend” of Bangladesh. They recounted Russia’s significant role during Bangladesh’s Liberation War and post-independence reconstruction, including clearing mines from Chittagong port to restore maritime trade. Russia, then the Soviet Union, was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh’s independence.

Mia Sattar stated that the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh acts as a bridge between the two nations, working to enhance diplomatic and trade relations while promoting mutual understanding. He pledged continued efforts to solidify the relationship further.

The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including members of the Russian Parliament, representatives from the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Bangladesh’s recently departed Russian ambassador, Alexander Mantytsky.

The celebration underscored the shared history and promising future of Bangladesh-Russia relations.