The Soviet Alumni Association of Bangladesh organized a solemn meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Russia.
At the event, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi recalled with gratitude the role of the then Soviet Union in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and the reconstruction of the war-torn Bangladesh.
He said the Soviet government had provided scholarships to a large number of Bangladeshi students to build skilled citizens in the reconstruction of post-war Bangladesh.
“They are currently engaged in almost all areas of socio-economic development of Bangladesh, holding senior positions in government agencies and private companies.”
The keynote speaker at the event, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, said that Russian investment had not increased in the 50 years of friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia.
He expressed hope that it would increase if the Russian side took initiatives.
Dr Mustafizur is a graduate from Kharkiv State University and Moscow State University.
Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, the mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, recalled that advanced Russian education became extremely important in almost every aspect of her career. She hoped that the future development of her city corporation would be reflected in the Russian higher education she had achieved.
Dr Ivy has a degree from the Odessa National Medical University in Ukraine.
Taqsem A Khan, the managing director of Dhaka Wasa, said: “The Soviet Union has given us scholarships for the betterment of Bangladesh, in whose education we are able to play an important role in development. We are all grateful to the Russian government.”
Taqsem has a degree in engineering from the People’s Friendship University in Moscow.
Ekaterina Semenova, minister-counselor of the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh, Maxim Dobrokhotov, director of the Russian House in Dhaka, and over a hundred alumni of the various Russian universities were present on the occasion.
