Russian ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy asked the interim government to resume payment of interest against $11.38 billion loan taken for the under constructed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi.
He made the request during call-on meeting with finance and commerce adviser Salehuddin Ahmed at Economic Relations Division at Agargaon on Sunday.
ERD officials said the interest payment had been remained suspended since 2022 because of disruption in transactions with banks in Russia following bans imposed by the US and European countries against the backdrop the war by Russia in Ukraine.
The payment on interest has been kept in an escrow account maintained by the Bangladesh Bank, they said, adding that Dhaka had already asked Moscow to defer repayment of principle amount of the loan by two years from 2029.
The Russian ambassador also asked the finance adviser about the plan about nuclear power plant construction which was started by the immediate past political regime.
However, the fall of the previous regime led by ousted prime minister Sheikh on August 5 due to mass movement brought about fresh uncertainty regarding the nuclear power plant project.
Besides, allegation of bribe of $5 billion taken by the former PM Sheikh Hasina from the project reported in the local newspaper went viral in the social media.
Officials attending the meeting said the finance adviser gave a patient hearing to the Russian ambassador.
The finance adviser told the envoy that issues regarding the nuclear power plant would be discussed in the advisers鈥� meeting.
Until March this year, around 65 per cent of the project has been complemented while it has been reported that the commissioning of power plant would face delay.聽聽聽聽
The Russian ambassador told reporters that allegation of $5 billion as bribe was false.
Answering a question, he said the continuation of the power project depended on the present government.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Earlier on the day, the finance adviser had separate meetings with Helen LaFave, Charge d鈥� affairs of the US Embassy, at finance ministry, and representatives of the organisations under the United Nations in Bangladesh at ERD.
The finance adviser said the US investors had been asked to make more investment on agriculture, energy, climate issues.
Answering to a question regarding withdrawing ban on generalised system of preference for export oriented readymade garments by the US, the finance adviser said the issue was linked to labour rights.
The US wants fulfillment of labour rights, he added.
The finance advisers said the UN organisations working here expressed keen interest to work with the interim government assumed in the power on August 8.
Answering a question on cancellation of undisclosed money legalisation scopes announced by the previous government in the current financial year, he said the decision in this regard would be taken after discussing in the advisory council.
