Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, Alexandra Khlevnoy, on Tuesday highlighted the continued expansion of educational cooperation between the two countries.
She said 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.
The Russian House in Dhaka hosted its half-yearly interactive session, bringing together representatives of the Bangladeshi media, educational institutions, participants in Russian international programmes, and distinguished guests.
Attaché and Press Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangladesh, Sofia Kutepova, made a presentation 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 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.
Farzana Yeasmin, a recipient of a Russian government scholarship, joined the event online from Moscow.
Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Global and Digital Media at the Faculty of Philology, Department of Mass Communication, at RUDN University, she shared her personal experiences of studying and living in Russia, highlighting the academic environment, student life, and opportunities available to international students.
Among the highlights was the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026, where five representatives from Bangladesh participated through Russia's international youth programmes.
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.
The Director also presented several prestigious initiatives under the New Generation Programme, including the World Youth Festival and the Eastern Economic Forum, which provide outstanding young leaders from Bangladesh with fully funded opportunities to participate in educational and cultural exchanges in Russia.
Another topic was the International Conference "Children for Peace," also organized under the New Generation Programme.
This year, six Bangladeshi schoolchildren earned the opportunity to participate after passing a competitive educational selection process.
Khlevnoy also highlighted Rosatom's international project, "Icebreaker of Knowledge," noting that Bangladesh produced winners in both 2025 and 2026.
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.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
