A memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh and Russia to export 200,000 tonnes of potatoes annually at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital on Tuesday (April 4) afternoon. Abdullah Sajjad, chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Abdus Sattar Mia, chairman of National Group, signed the MoU on behalf of the respective countries. Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque and Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantitsky look on.

Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque has said Bangladesh is expected to export around 2 lakh tonnes of potatoes to Russia next year.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and Russia in this regard at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital on Tuesday (April 4) afternoon.

Abdullah Sajjad, chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Abdus Sattar Mia, chairman of National Group, signed the MoU on behalf of the respective countries.

Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak, Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter, Executive Chairman of BARC Dr Sheikh Md Bakhtiar, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantitsky, and BADC member director Mostafizur Rahman were present at the MoU signing ceremony.

The agriculture minister said Bangladesh's climate is very suitable for production of potatoes. Currently more than one crore tonnes of potatoes are being produced in the country annually.

"Our local demand is 80 lakh tonnes per annum, while the remaining 20 lakh tonnes can be exported and the government is working to this end," he added.

Russia imposed restrictions on Bangladesh's potatoes due to the detection of brown rot disease in potatoes in 2014.

In March 2022, Russia lifted previously imposed restrictions and resumed the import of potatoes from the entire territory of Bangladesh as the government has taken various measures to free the vegetable from brown rot disease and make it safe. In 2015, Bangladesh exported 20,000 tonnes of potatotoes to Russia.