Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his regret for not being able to come to Dhaka due to schedule complications.
The Russian foreign minister expressed his intention to make the visit soon during a telephone conversation with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday, according to UNB.
Lavrov was scheduled to visit Bangladesh on November 23, mainly to attend the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers meeting, to be held in Dhaka on November 24.
Russia is a dialogue partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) while Bangladesh is the current chair of the group.
During the conversation, AK Abdul Momen and Sergei Lavrov shed light on the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Russia and expressed their desire to take these relations to greater heights.
Momen thanked Russia for its cooperation with Bangladesh in the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and invited Russian President Putin to visit Bangladesh on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh's foreign minister highlighted the role of the Soviet Union in the War of Liberation of Bangladesh and said that Dhaka will always remember it with gratitude.
He sought the cooperation of the Russian foreign minister in sending the Rohingya refugees, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh, back to Myanmar.
In reply, Lavrov assured that he would talk with Myanmar.
Among other things, the two ministers also discussed the cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia in the United Nations and other international organisations.
The Russian foreign minister greeted the Bangladesh prime minister on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Sunday, Momen said the increased activities of Russia due to the situation in Ukraine might be the reason behind the revised decision taken by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"I can understand it. They are very busy. Their activities due to the war have increased to a large extent. Maybe for that reason he is unable to come," Momen told reporters after attending a programme in a Dhaka hotel.