Russia has sought the cooperation of Chief Adviser (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus to ensure the continued operations of the state-owned Russian company Gazprom International in gas exploration.

The request was made by Alexander G Khozin, the Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, during a meeting with the CA at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka today, according to a statement.

Gazprom has been active in Bangladesh since 2012, partnering in the exploration of gas reserves. In 2023, Gazprom International identified five new wells for further exploration in Bhola, an island off the southern coast.

Prof Yunus expressed gratitude to Gazprom for its efforts in preparing to drill the five wells in Bhola and highlighted that the power, energy, and mineral resources ministry is actively working on the matter.

He also conveyed openness to further collaboration in this regard.

During the meeting, the ambassador discussed a range of issues, including broader trade relations and cooperation between the two nations.

In 2024, the supply of Russian wheat to Bangladesh reached an all-time high, making Bangladesh the second-largest consumer of Russian grain, following Egypt.

From July 2024 to January 2025, approximately 2.3 million tonnes of Russian wheat were delivered to Bangladesh, including 623,000 tonnes (or 6.23 lakh tonnes) under government-to-government contracts.

Russia is also preparing to supply 30,000 tonnes of the Muriate of Potash fertiliser to Bangladesh as a gesture of friendship, the ambassador noted.

He further highlighted a significant increase in the number of visas issued to Bangladeshis seeking employment in agriculture and shipbuilding in Russia.

The number of visas issued between January and March 2025 was four times higher than during the same period the previous year, according to the statement.