# FBCCI and Russia-Bangladesh Business Council ink cooperation agreement

- Link: https://globalvoicebd.com/world/fbcci-and-russia-bangladesh-business-council-ink-cooperation-agreement/
- Published: 2026-11-06T12:23:52-05:00
- Author: GV Newsroom

Bangladesh and Russia moved to strengthen commercial ties this week, with business
groups signing a Memorandum of Understanding and officials holding high-level intergovernmental
talks focused on trade, energy, agriculture, banking, and technology.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Russia-
Bangladesh Business Council signed the MoU on November 5 at the FBCCI office in 
Motijheel during a Bangladesh-Russia Business Dialogue. FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul
Hoque and Russia-Bangladesh Business Council Chairman Mia Sattar formalized the 
agreement in the presence of Ilya Shestakov, head of Russia’s Federal Agency for
Fisheries and leader of the Russian delegation.

The MoU aims to create a more favorable environment for companies in both countries
through information sharing, joint projects, trade fairs, exhibitions, business 
missions, and investment forums. Hoque noted that trade has not yet reached expected
levels and described the dialogue as a step toward identifying and addressing barriers.
Shestakov described Bangladesh as one of Russia’s leading trading partners in South
Asia and expressed interest in expanding supplies of agricultural products, food,
and fertilizer, while exploring cooperation in energy, information technology, cybersecurity,
and e-governance. Both sides stressed the need for sustainable bilateral payment
infrastructure, simplified procedures, better logistics, and improved market access.

The business talks coincided with the fifth meeting of the Bangladesh-Russia Intergovernmental
Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, held in Dhaka
on November 5–6. Co-chaired by Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader
Siddiky and Shestakov, the commission reviewed ongoing cooperation and signed agreed
minutes recording shared priorities in energy (including potential long-term LNG
and LPG supplies), agriculture, fisheries, industry, investment, education, and 
technical fields. Russian participants highlighted opportunities in banking and 
ICT, while Bangladesh emphasized power and energy security, agricultural technology,
and skills development.

The Russia-Bangladesh Business Council, an independent body representing business
interests from both countries, was formally organized earlier this year with Mia
Sattar as chairman. The week’s developments come amid broader efforts to expand 
bilateral economic links despite existing constraints on payments and logistics.