Russia may recruit 1 lakh workers from Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Russia are in talks to increase labour recruitment from Bangladesh to up to 100,000 workers within the next year.

Russian authorities have agreed to work expeditiously on the proposal made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who is now visiting Moscow.

“The two sides are expected to complete necessary formalities in this regard soon,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday.

At present, nearly 10,000 Bangladeshis are working in Russia.

Khalilur and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a bilateral meeting in Moscow on Monday.

The two sides also agreed that bilateral trade remained well below its potential. Trade between Bangladesh and Russia has stood at over $2 billion annually over the last few years.

Khalilur emphasised the scope for a rapid increase in Bangladeshi exports, particularly readymade garments and pharmaceuticals, to the Russian market.

In this regard, the Russian side welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal to send a business delegation to Russia in the coming weeks.

Cooperation in technology, particularly artificial intelligence, also came up prominently during the visit.

Khalilur proposed that a Russian delegation on the application of AI in agriculture and health visit Bangladesh, and the Russian authorities readily agreed.

They also expressed interest in assisting Bangladesh in preparing its national AI policy and establishing institutions of excellence in AI in the country.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Nazrul Islam were also present.