Russia wants long-term lease

Russia wants to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the Bangladesh embassy premises in Moscow considering its historic value.

The Russian government said this in response to Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam's proposal to exchange land for the premises of the Bangladesh embassy.

During a meeting in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Morgulov Igor Vladimirovich recognised the historic value of the property as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had stayed at the present embassy residence (which is integral part of the Chancery premises) during his maiden visit to the then USSR in 1972.

The Russian minister conveyed that his government would be willing to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the present premises, as local laws do not allow handing over property within certain specified areas, including location of the embassy premises, on permanent basis to any foreign parties.

Shahriar Alam, who is now in Russia, had a meeting on Tuesday with the Russian deputy minister in which the two sides agreed to sign an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and to hold a meeting of the Foreign Secretary Level Consultations later this year.

The meeting discussed the proposed intergovernmental commission on political, economical, trade and science and technology cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia.

It also touched on the possibility of establishing direct Moscow-Dhaka air flights to encourage more people-to-people contact for enhanced business, trade and cultural exchanges.