Russia Grants $1 Billion Loan to Bangladesh for Weapons

   Russia has granted a $1 billion loan to Bangladesh for the purchase of Russian-made weapons.

The deal was signed Tuesday in Moscow during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Details on the possible weapons purchases were not released, but reports say the new agreement could include orders for air defense systems, helicopters and weapons for ground forces.

In addition, Russia will provide a separate $500 million loan to Bangladesh for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant in Ruppur, located 200 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka.

Russia has also agreed to provide financial support after the first stage of construction is complete.  

Bangladesh wants to buy Russia’s Yak-130 aircraft

Bangladesh’s air forces are interested in buying Russia’s jet trainer/light attack aircraft Yak-130, Sergey Kornev, a representative of the Rosoboronexport (Russia’s state intermediary agency for exports/imports of defense-related products) said Thursday.

He was speaking at the China Airshow 2012 which is underway in the Chinese city of Zhuhai.

Kornev added that Russia will grant a loan to Bangladesh to buy 12 Yak-130 planes and Su-27 jet fighters. He did not mention the sum of the loan.

“As far as I know the loan has been approved. Within its amount Bangladesh can choose the number of planes it will buy and their modifications”, he said.