CONTRIBUTION OF RUSSIA TO BANGLADESH DURING LIBERATION WAR

The contribution of Russia to Bangladesh during liberation war of 1971 was noteworthy. Russia
supported the struggle of the people of Bangladesh for independence and was one of the first
nations to recognize as new sovereign state. Russia-Bangladesh maintained a friendly relation
from the inception of Bangladesh in terms of diplomatic, military and economic. Bangladesh pay
glowing tribute to Russia for using its “Veto Power” twice against the proposal for a ceasefire and
thus taking a stand in favor of Bangladesh. This paved the way for the Bangladeshi freedom
fighters to achieve independence on the 16th December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the Soviet
Navy dispatched two groups of cruisers and destroyers, armed with nuclear missiles from
Vladivostok deployed in the Indian Ocean to stand aside independence of Bangladesh from 18
December until 7 January 1972. In recognition father of the nation
of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman paid a
historical visit to Russia on 1st March 1972. Russia extended the
hands of cooperation to Bangladesh immensely during the post-
liberation period. Bangabandhu requested Soviet leadership to
assist in minesweeping of Chittagong port and cleaning of sank
ships and vessels in the Karnofuli river. He has also visited Russia
with the expectation to build a new relation of friendship and
Historical Visit of Bangabandhu cooperation between the
two countries and also to express our gratitude for the
effective contribution to our war of liberation. During the visit
of Bangabandhu, an inter-governmental agreement on
economic and technical cooperation, trade representation,
cultural, education, and scientific cooperation was signed.
The demining operation began on April 26 1972 for two-
year-long in which 800 naval personnel, scaffold workers,
Demining Operation at Karnofuli River
and divers mostly from the Pacific Fleet worked tirelessly,
putting their lives at risk, and lived in Chittagong for the duration of the operation. 12 out of the 18
moorings in the port were destroyed during the war and more than 40 vessels had sunk near the
port. Even the access road to the port was mined. Seamen of Russia dealt with poor living
conditions, storms, heavy currents, extreme heat, and close to zero visibility in silted water. The
Russian team headed by Rear Admiral
Stanislav Zuenko completely restored the
port and also trained Bangladeshi
personnel. The Chittagong port started to
function within three months of the
Entombment of Yury Redkin beginning of the Russian demining, and Present Redkin Point at BNA
within two years its monthly operations exceeded pre-war levels. Yury Redkin, a sailor in his mid-
20s, was the sole Russian casualty during the demining operations. He was buried at Redkin
Point which is situated at Bangladesh Naval Academy being the symbol of heroism, dedication,
and inspiration for the young cadets. Bangladesh Government honored “Late Rear Admiral
 Sergey Pavlovich Zuenko and his team” (“Rescue
Expedition”) when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
presented the “Friends of Liberation War Honor” to their
representatives in a solemn ceremony on March 27, 2013.
Since then Russia helped Bangladesh in revitalizing and
developing its economy and power sector. In particular, the
power plants at ‘Ghorashal’ and ‘Siddirganj’, electrical
equipment factory in Chittagong, and other projects were
built with the financial and technical assistance of the
Bangladeshis said good bye to MS “KHABAROVKS” Russia. Since the 1970s, over five thousand students from
departing for the port of VLADIVOSTOK after
Bangladesh have graduated from Russian institutions of
successful Demining Operation at Chittagong Port
higher education. Procurement of MIG 21, MIG 29, YAK
130, Mi-171E for Bangladesh Military force have strengthened the relation between Dhaka and
Moscow. The relation further revived after the historic visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
Sheikh Hasina in Russia from
January 14-16, 2013. President
Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina held extensive
negotiations on numerous issues of
bilateral and international agenda.
Bangladesh-Russia confirmed to
cooperate in the field of nuclear
energy, military hardware supplies,
agriculture, education, health,
culture, justice, and counterterrorism.
Presently, construction of Ruppur
Visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh
Nuclear Power Plant is one of the
Hasina in Russia, Jan 2013
remarkable reflections of cooperation
between these two countries. Irrespective of the motives and gains of the Soviet Union in its
involvement in the Bangladesh war of liberation, its solid and unflinching support was invaluable
to Bangladesh. Russia's positive role thus contributed immensely to the historic triumph, economy
and military development of Bangladesh.