BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

REVISITING BANGLADESH-RUSSIA RELATIONS: REFLECTIONS OF NEOCLASSICAL REALISM

Author: Sheikh Shams Morsalin, Saddam Hosen

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2024v45n1a4

ABSTRACT

Bangladesh enjoys a longstanding relationship with the Russian Federation (the then Soviet Union), which played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971. Standing on a solid platform of friendship and trust, bilateral relations have been somewhat less productive compared to expectations. However, under the premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh-Russia relations have been experiencing a revitalisation with enhanced cooperation in the areas of energy and technology, trade, and defence over the last decade. At a time when Bangladesh enjoys its golden jubilee of independence and moves forward to cross the threshold of the LDC, Russia seems to occupy a central place in the country’s foreign policy. Therefore, it is essential to look back on Dhaka-Moscow relations more theoretically, which in turn would guide us to comprehend the future trajectory of this significant partnership. Despite the dearth of academic literature on Bangladesh-Russia bilateral relations, this paper primarily attempts to revisit Bangladesh-Russia relations based on a qualitative analysis of available secondary data. Relying on the theoretical tool of neoclassical realism, the paper shows how systemic constraints and domestic factors, particularly leadership factors, influenced Bangladesh’s foreign policy towards Russia.