Dhaka, Aug 29 (V7N): Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy, held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday to discuss the current political situation in Bangladesh, the upcoming general elections, trade, investment, and potential areas for enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

The hour-long discussion took place at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office, attended by BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Shama Obaid, a member of the special assistant committee on foreign affairs to the BNP chairperson.

Following the meeting, Khasru briefed reporters, stating that the Russian envoy expressed interest in the prevailing circumstances in Bangladesh and the BNP's strategy for addressing the ongoing crisis.

"We conveyed that the BNP values its relationships with all countries equally. We don't favor any particular nation over another. Our goal is to maintain strong and balanced relations with every country, including Russia. The bond between the people of Bangladesh and Russia, as well as the bilateral relations, will continue," Khasru emphasized.

The discussion also covered various aspects of bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment. "The conversation was very cordial. We touched on topics such as the relationship between the two countries, business and trade, investment, and collaboration in areas like science, energy, and culture," Khasru elaborated.

He further mentioned that they discussed enhancing the presence of Bangladeshi products in the Russian market and addressing financial transaction barriers between the two countries. "Our discussions focused on advancing the relationship between our two nations in a way that is consistent with our relations with other countries."

The Russian envoy also inquired about the timeline for the upcoming election and related matters. Khasru clarified that while the BNP supports the interim government, they did not specify a timeframe for the election. "We assured the ambassador that power will be transferred to an elected government as soon as possible."

Khasru reiterated that the BNP's foreign policy prioritizes strong relations with every country, leveraging comparative advantages. "The relationship between our two countries should be mutually beneficial, based on mutual respect and shared interests. Our friendship with Russia will be built on these principles."

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