The US-sanctioned ship which was not allowed by Bangladesh to anchor at Mongla port will be sending materials for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in an alternative way.
The country's state news agency Tass reported on Tuesday, citing the Russian company Rosatom, which is building critical infrastructures for the plant, that the Rooppur project will not be affected by the delay in the transportation of goods.
On December 22, Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam held a discussion with Russian Ambassador Alexander Vikentevich Mantitsky, where the former informed the latter about Dhaka's decision.
Sanctioned Russian ship Sparta III (Ursa Major) was scheduled to dock at Mongla port in the southwestern part of the country at the end of December and unload cargo destined for the Rooppur plant in Pabna.
But the authorities denied the ship permission to dock at the port after officials got a letter from the US Embassy in Dhaka saying that the ship was on a list of Russian vessels sanctioned by the US.
On January 22, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh will not accept those Russian ships which are under sanctions, noting that Bangladesh has developed a good relationship with the United States.
Bangladesh conveyed to the Russian side that they can send any ship except the 69 sanctioned ships carrying equipment for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
