Russia, Bangladesh seal ARMS DEAL
RUSSIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday met the prime
minister of Bangladesh for talks that included the signature of a $1
billion arms contract, the Asian nation's biggest since its 1971
independence.
Bangladesh has recently been expanding its defence capabilities,
building a new air base close to neighbouring Myanmar and adding
frigates to its navy.
“Our countries intend to expand their military and technological
cooperation,” news agencies quoted Putin as telling Bangladeshi Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina during a Kremlin ceremony.
“Russia will extend Bangladesh a credit of $1 billion, which will be
spent on the purchase on Russian weapons and military technology,” the
Russian leader said.
The arms purchase agreement included orders for armoured vehicles and
infantry weapons, air defence systems and Mi-17 transport helicopters, a
source close to Russia's state arms export agency told the Vedomosti
business daily.
The source said the purchase did not include any tank orders because
Bangladesh had earlier obtained those from China.
Bangladesh also opted out of its initial plans to purchase eight
advanced Mig-29 fighter jets because of their $500 million price tag.
A separate part of the agreements saw Russia assign $500 million to
finance the construction of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, to
be built at a site called Rooppur.
The two planned Rooppur reactors are expected to cost $4 billion,
with Russia also agreeing to continue financing construction after the
first phase of the project is complete, news reports said.
Bangladesh's military spending spree follows the recent discovery of
offshore natural gas deposits, which Russian officials believe means it
will have no problems repaying the credit.
A.N.M Muniruzzaman, an analyst at the Dhaka-based Institute of Peace
and Security Studies, told AFP it was the biggest defence deal ever to
be signed by Bangladesh which gained independence in 1971.
AFP
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