Alexandra Khlevnoy, director of the Russian House in Dhaka, said the number of Russian government scholarships available to Bangladeshi students has risen significantly, from 65 in 2018 to 200 in 2026, expanding opportunities for talented students to pursue higher education in Russia.
She came up with the disclosure at a half-yearly press conference at the Russian House in Dhaka on Tuesday, attended by media representatives, academics, participants in Russian international programmes and other guests.
The event featured the Russian House’s achievements during the first half of 2026 and outlined new opportunities for Russia-Bangladesh cooperation in education, science, culture and youth development.
The presentation focused on the Russian Government’s fully funded youth programmes, offering outstanding Bangladeshi students and young professionals opportunities to participate in educational, scientific, cultural and exchange initiatives in Russia.
During the press conference, forum participants Md Syed Raihan Ul Islam (Daffodil International University), Md Towhid Bin Shafi (Canadian University of Bangladesh), Mr Sakib Asad Khan (Canadian University of Bangladesh), and Dr Barek Kaiser (University of Development Alternative) shared their experiences and spoke about the professional knowledge, international networking opportunities, and new perspectives they gained through the forum.
The director also presented several prestigious initiatives under the New Generation Programme, including the World Youth Festival and the Eastern Economic Forum, which provide outstanding young leaders from Bangladesh with fully funded opportunities to participate in educational and cultural exchanges in Russia.
The presentation showcased the fully funded Open Dialogue and InteRussia Fellowship Programme for Journalists, which offers emerging professionals and media practitioners from around the world opportunities for international engagement and exchange. Special recognition was given to Jinnat Ara Jasoa, a graduate of Daffodil International University, for being selected for the InteRussia Fellowship Programme in Russia.
Khlevnoy also highlighted Rosatom’s international project “Icebreaker of Knowledge,” noting that Bangladesh produced winners in both 2025 and 2026. The fully funded programme offers talented students the opportunity to travel to the North Pole aboard Russia’s nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy as part of a scientific expedition.
She also said Russian language courses were conducted in 2025 at several Bangladeshi universities by specialists from Saint Petersburg and RUDN University. She added that Russian language instructors are expected to return in August 2026 to continue offering free courses to Bangladeshi students.
The programme ended with an interactive discussion between speakers and media representatives on expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia in education, science, culture, youth exchanges and international partnerships.
