Published: 12:02 AM, 01 July 2026
Half-yearly press conference held at Russian House in Dhaka
The Russian House in Dhaka hosted its half-yearly press conference, bringing together representatives of Bangladeshi media, educational institutions, participants of Russian international programmes, and distinguished guests. The event reviewed the achievements of the Russian House during the first half of 2026 and presented new opportunities for educational, scientific, cultural, and youth cooperation between Russia and Bangladesh.
Opening the event, Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, highlighted the continued expansion of educational cooperation between the two countries.
She noted that the annual quota of Russian Government Scholarships for Bangladeshi students has increased significantly from 65 scholarships in 2018 to 200 scholarships in 2026, creating greater opportunities for talented Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in Russia.
A significant part of the presentation was devoted to the Russian Government's fully funded international youth programmes, which provide outstanding Bangladeshi students and young professionals with opportunities to participate in prestigious educational, scientific, cultural, and international exchange initiatives in Russia.
Among the highlights was the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026, where five representatives from Bangladesh participated through Russia's international youth programmes. During the press conference, forum participants Md. Syed Raihan Ul Islam (Daffodil International University), Md. Towhid Bin Shafi (Canadian University of Bangladesh), Sakib Asad Khan (Canadian University of Bangladesh), and Dr. Barek Kaiser (University of Development Alternative) shared their experiences and spoke about the professional knowledge, international networking opportunities, and new perspectives they gained through the forum.
Khlevnoy also highlighted Rosatom's international project "Icebreaker of Knowledge", noting that Bangladesh produced winners in both 2025 and 2026. The programme offers talented students the unique opportunity to travel to the North Pole aboard Russia's nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy as part of a fully funded scientific expedition.
Special attention was given to the Open International Biology Olympiad 2026, held in the Sirius Federal Territory, where Team Bangladesh became the Project Round Winner. In addition, Taseen Mohammad of BIAM Model School and College won an individual Bronze Medal, marking another important achievement for Bangladesh on the international scientific stage.
The Director also reviewed the Russian House's expanding cultural and sports diplomacy initiatives, including cooperation in the One Run international race, ethnosport activities promoting traditional sports, film festivals, exhibitions, concerts, youth exchange programmes, and numerous cultural events designed to strengthen people-to-people ties between Russia and Bangladesh.
The event concluded with a presentation by Sofia Kutepova, Attaché and Press Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangladesh, on the theme "The Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia." Her presentation highlighted Russia's rich cultural diversity, emphasizing the country's many nationalities and religions, while underscoring the importance of unity, mutual respect, and intercultural dialogue within its multicultural society.
The press conference concluded with an interactive discussion between the speakers and media representatives, focusing on future opportunities for cooperation in education, science, culture, youth exchanges, and international partnerships between Bangladesh and Russia.
