Published: 12:22 AM, 06 September 2026
Joining BRICS will be beneficial for both sides: Ambassador Nazrul
Bangladesh's Ambassador to Russia, Nazrul Islam, has expressed hope that Bangladesh's joining the BRICS bloc of emerging economies would be "mutually beneficial" for both sides. He made the remarks in an interview with the Russian news agency Sputnik on Friday on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2026.
The Bangladeshi diplomat said, "I believe BRICS would be a very good platform for Bangladesh to build on its development achievements and further increase its engagement in global politics. If Dhaka joins the bloc, it would be mutually beneficial for both sides."
According to the ambassador, since Bangladesh represents a significant part of the Global South, BRICS would also benefit from Bangladesh joining the group. Nazrul Islam said that at the EEF, Bangladesh discussed the possibility of utilizing Russia's oil and LNG resources.
Sputnik's report said that construction of Bangladesh's first Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, with Russian assistance, is nearing completion. The ambassador said the project, which was initiated under the ousted Awami League government, is expected to become operational by the end of November.
In the brief interview, the ambassador also responded to questions about Dhaka's possible participation in the Mecca Defense Alliance. He said Bangladesh is considering joining the alliance. According to him, since it is an alliance of Muslim countries, the government views the matter positively. He also noted that Dhaka has very good bilateral relations with each of the alliance's member countries.
For context, the Mecca Defense Alliance is a trilateral mutual military pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. The agreement, signed on August 7, stipulates that an armed attack against any one member country will be considered an attack against all three countries.
