For the first time in 50 years, a Russian Navy squadron from its Pacific Fleet arrived in the port city Chittagong on Sunday on a friendly visit.
The Russian embassy in Dhaka in a X( formally twitter) confirmed it.The Russian embassy termed it a huge milestone"in Russia-Bangladesh diplomatic ties.
According to the embassy, the last time Russian/Soviet naval ships visited Bangladesh was 50 years ago.
Ambassador Alexander Mantytskiy visited the ship anchored at Chittagong port.
The visit came amid Bangladesh's political tensions with the United States over its general election.
Bangladesh and Russia share historical ties.
The then-Soviet Union played a key role in Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise could not make its way to the Bay of Bengal due to the presence of Pacific Fleet warships during the war.
After the liberation, the Soviet Union also extended support in reviving Bangladesh’s economy by a mine-sweeping operation at Chittagong port.
That was the last visit of the Russian Navy to Bangladesh.
The Russian state news agency TASS says the Pacific Fleet’s naval group comprises large anti-submarine warfare ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev and the oceanic tanker Pechenga.
Ambassador Mantytskiy recalled the historic visit of the Russian Navy 50 years ago.
“At that time, the group of Russian naval ships came here actually to save the young country that gained its independence in 1971 from a humanitarian catastrophe. After the war of independence, the port’s waters were mined and also tens of vessels were sunk there.
“The Bangladeshi authorities turned to various countries with a request to help resolve the problem. Some of them agreed but for a large sum of money, which the republic lacked. It was only the Soviet Union that agreed to provide support for humanitarian reasons,” the ambassador was quoted as saying.