Russia thanks BD for abstaining from UN vote on Ukraine war

Staff Reporter :
In a surprising move, Russia has expressed its gratitude to Bangladesh for abstaining from voting on the resolution adopted by the United Nations to stop the war and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.
Quoting Moscow’s permanent envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, the Embassy of Russia in Bangladesh in an official tweet on early Saturday, said, “The non-binding “anti-Russian” resolution of the UNGA will not bring the world closer to ending the Ukraine conflict. Thank you, Bangladesh, for abstaining.”
Earlier on Thursday, 32 countries including Bangladesh, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting while seven countries including Russia voted against the resolution.
However, a total of 141 countries voted in favour of the resolution.
Meanwhile, the tweet came such a time when Russia on February 21 called the Bangladesh envoy to Moscow Quamrul Ahsan over the barring of Russian vessel with US sanction to anchor a Bangladesh port to unload the materials for the purpose of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
This matter created a commotion in the bilateral relations and the future of the Power Plant, though Bangladesh said that there will be no impact on bilateral relationship due to a single ship or for any specific reason because both countries have a long term friendly relation.
In the meantime, Bangladesh’s decision to maintain its neutrality in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has earned the gratitude from the Russian side.
Such gratitude is a manifestation on maintaining good relations between the two countries tied with historical bond since the War of Liberation in 1971.
Earlier on 23 February, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin in a press briefing said, “Russia is a tested and an old friend of Bangladesh, especially for its special role during Liberation War in 1971. We are working jointly on multifaceted areas. Our understanding is so good that we don’t think a single issue will adversely impact the existing bilateral and friendly relations.”