Bangladesh Moscow tries to push ‘sanctioned’ ship inside Bangladesh

[Isa Khan]

Moscow reportedly has been pressuring Dhaka to accept a ship under US sanctions. According to vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, for 10 days, the Russian ship Sparta-3 has been waiting in the deep sea (in international waters). It wants to anchor at Mongla seaport in Bangladesh. This ship has carried equipment and materials required for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), which is being constructed by Russian companies.

But Bangladesh Foreign Ministry is unwilling to allow ‘Sparta-3’ to enter country’s seaport as it may place Bangladesh under fresher US sanctions. Under such situation, Russia through an official message has threatened stating if Bangladesh does not allow its ship to enter country’s seaport, it would hamper existing bilateral relations between Dhaka and Moscow.

However, within hours of receipt of this note verbal from Russia, Bangladesh MOFA summoned Russian ambassador and made it clear that under no circumstances this sanctioned ship would be accepted, despite the fact that the name and color of the ship has been altered.

Sparta-3 bears IMP certification number 9538892.

On December 20, 2022, Washington notified Dhaka about arrival of a sanctioned Russian ship in the direction of Mongla port in Bangladesh amid exchange of tweets between US and Russian embassies on Bangladesh issues. Bangladesh authorities quickly acted on the message it had received from the US Embassy in Dhaka on December 20 and instructions were passed to authorities concerned in Mongla port to take appropriate measures to return the ship as soon as possible.

Moscow felt unhappy over Dhaka’s decision and immediately exerted pressure for letting the ship anchor at Mongla port. But Dhaka remained rigid on its decision. As a result, Russia had reportedly threatened Bangladesh of deterioration of existing relations if the ship was not allowed to enter Bangladesh maritime area.


Subsequently, Russian ambassador to Bangladesh, Aleksandr Mantytsky went to MOFA on December 22 and held meeting with Real Admiral (Retired) Khurshid Alam, Maritime Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Director General of Central and East Europe desk, S Bodiuzzaman was also present during the meeting.

It may be mentioned here that, following sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, movement of Russian flag-carrier vessels have become difficult. In a large number of countries Russian vessels are refused to enter and sent back from the deep-sea area.

Moscow tries to push ‘sanctioned’ ship inside Bangladesh | BLiTZ

Moscow reportedly has been pressuring Dhaka to accept a ship under US sanctions. According to vernacular tabloid daily Manabzamin, for 10 days, the Russian ship Sparta-3 has been waiting in the deep sea (in international waters). It wants to anchor at Mongla seaport in Bangladesh. This ship has...

www.weeklyblitz.net

US-Russian argument over Bangladesh, ships banned | Kaler Kantho

The US and Russia engaged in an open war of words last week over interference in Bangladeshs internal affairs. At that time, activities were going on behind the scenes to prevent a banned Russian ship from entering Bangladesh. According to the related sources, the Russian flagship called Ursa

www.kalerkantho.com

 

[Isa Khan]

The consignment meant for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) that had to be turned away from Bangladesh shores due to being carried by a US-sanctioned vessel, may ultimately be sent to their destination by road.

This is based on indications that the Russian ship, instead of going all the way back with the vital equipment it was carrying, has hovered in the Bay of Bengal since the incident in late December. Now the BBC is reporting that it may be looking to unload its consignment at the Haldia port in West Bengal.

India has been openly defying US sanctions on Russian ships since the start of the war in Ukraine. All Indian ports are thus open to Russia-flagged vessels, even those with sanctions on them.

The Russian-flagged ship arrived at the Mongla port channel at the end of December with goods destined for the Rooppur plant, Mongla Port Authority Secretary Kalachand Singh said.

"We have learned that the cargo from the vessel can be unloaded at the Haldia port in India's West Bengal. From there, another vessel could carry the consignment for the Rooppur power plant and deliver it to a port of Bangladesh," he added.

Sadhan Kumar, operations officer of Khulna Conveyor Shipping Lines, said, "Earlier shipments for Rooppur NPP were delivered by Russian and neutral, foreign-flagged vessels at the Mongla port. After the unloading of the cargoes at the port, they would be taken to Rooppur."

The sanctioned Russian ship Sparta III was scheduled to dock at the port in the southwestern part of the country and unload cargo destined for the Rooppur NPP in Pabna.

But the authorities denied the ship permission to dock at the port after officials got a letter from the US Embassy in Dhaka saying that the ship was on a list of Russian ships sanctio ned by the US.

Rooppur consignment on sanctioned Russian ship may come by road from India

The consignment meant for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) that had to be turned away from Bangladesh shores due to being carried by a US-sanctioned vessel, may ultimately be sent to their destination by road. This is based on indications that the Russian ship, instead of going all the way...

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

The government has given instructions not to allow 69 large cargo ships of Russia to enter the seaport of Bangladesh. These vessels are subject to US sanctions. In view of such allegations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh sent an instruction to the Ministry of Shipping for implementation on January 4. From the Ministry of Shipping, instructions have been given to be implemented in all seaports of the country the next day. This is the first time that so many ships have been banned simultaneously in the country.

Recently, a Russian-flagged cargo ship arrived in the Bay of Bengal with the products of Rooppur nuclear project under construction in Bangladesh from Russia. When the US embassy informed the government of Bangladesh, the government stopped the ship from entering the port.

Then the ship 'Ursa Major' left Bangladesh without unloading the cargo and docked at Haldia port in Kolkata. The Bangladesh government issued this directive after the uproar after that incident.

Acknowledging the receipt of the letter, Captain Sabbir Mahmood, principal officer of the Naval Trade Department, told Kaler Kantho, 'We received this instruction yesterday afternoon. All ships on the list are Russian. Now we will give an instruction to the more than three hundred shipping agencies working in Bangladesh as a trustee so that the ships cannot crowd the ports of the country. At the same time, the port will also take measures.'

A marine officer of the port told Kaler Kantho, 'Before any ship bound for Bangladesh loads goods at the port, permission or waiver certificate must be obtained from the Director General of Bangladesh Shipping Department. As a result, the ship does not have the right to enter the waters of Bangladesh unless the shipping department gives the certificate. After that, the port authorities take care of the matter when the ship reaches the port. We have received instructions from the Ministry. That's why the port authorities are also cautious.'

The sanctions include 69 vessels belonging to seven Russian companies. These include Oil Tankers, General Cargo Vessels, car transporter ro ro vessels, dredgers, tugs and other important categories of ships. These ships are not only prohibited from entering the port, but at the same time, they have been ordered to refrain from providing all kinds of services, starting from bunkering, refueling, temporary registration. The letter of the Ministry of Shipping has been sent to all the seaports of the country including Chittagong.

Apart from this, it has been requested to take necessary measures not to provide any kind of permanent or temporary registration for the ships through the flag registration agency, including bringing other maritime services under the ban. In addition to the port, instructions have been sent to various departments including the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, Director General of the Department of Sea Transport, Director General of Coast Guard, Managing Director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.

Bangladesh banned 69 Russian ships

The government has given instructions not to allow 69 large cargo ships of Russia to enter the seaport of Bangladesh. These vessels are subject to US sanctions. In view of such allegations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh sent an instruction to the Ministry of Shipping for...

www.kalerkantho.com

 

[Afif]

Of course, of course, we wont break any sanction.

 

[Isa Khan]

The progress of the country's first nuclear power plant suffered a setback as the Russian ship carrying equipment for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is now heading back to Russia instead of offloading at West Bengal's Haldia Port, as it was supposed to do.

"The Russian embassy in Dhaka has informed that the ship is moving back to Russia without being able to offload at Haldia Port," a foreign ministry official told The Daily Star today.

Russian flag carrier URSA MAJOR was supposed to reach Mongla Port for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on December 24. However, the US embassy in Dhaka informed Bangladesh on December 20 that the vessel carrying the goods was not URSA MAJOR, but Sparta 3, which faces US sanctions.

After confirming the matter, Bangladesh authorities refused to let the ship anchor at Mongla Port. The Department of Shipping then told the local shipping agent for Sparta 3 that it would help the ship offload the materials at Haldia Port in Kolkata and then bring the equipment to Rooppur by waterway or road.Officials could not say why Sparta 3 could not offload the equipment at Haldia Port.

"Perhaps the agent could not negotiate with Haldia Port authorities or there was pressure from the US side on India," a foreign ministry official said.The official said this incident would definitely impact the work of the project being implemented by the Russian Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation.

Russian ship returning without offloading Rooppur equipment

The progress of the country’s first nuclear power plant suffered a setback as the Russian ship carrying equipment for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is now heading back to Russia instead of offloading at West Bengal’s Haldia Port, as it was supposed to do..“The Russian embassy in Dhaka has in

www.thedailystar.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed surprise that Russia "intentionally" changed the name of a vessel that was subject to sanctions in order to transport components of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

"We didn't expect that," he told journalists at the foreign ministry on Sunday.

He said currently 69 Russian ships are under US sanctions over the war in Ukraine, but Moscow has several thousands of vessels out of the purview of the ban.

Bangladesh will not accept any sanctioned Russian vessel, Momen said, expressing hope that Moscow will dispatch goods by vessels that are not under sanctions.

The foreign minister also mentioned that Bangladesh has established good relations with the United States.

With equipment for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, a Russian vessel called Ursa Major left the Saint Petersburg port of Russia on 14 November last year.

It had changed its name to Ursa Major from the original Sparta-3, which had come under US sanction over the Ukraine war.

The vessel was supposed to reach Bangladesh on 24 December, a US Embassy diplomatic letter on 20 December informed Bangladesh authorities about the name changing.

The US Embassy said any kind of cooperation with sanctioned ships would invite the risk of falling under US sanctions or large financial penalties.

After verifying the matter, the Bangladesh authorities denied berthing to the vessel. Subsequently, the bulk cargo carrier went to Haldia port in West Bengal and tried to unload the equipment, but the ship failed to get permission from New Delhi and left the Indian waters on 16 January.

Russia sent Rooppur cargo in sanctioned ship intentionally: Momen

The foreign minister says Bangladesh won’t accept any sanctioned Russian vessel

www.tbsnews.net

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, on the return of Russian ship sanctioned by the USA, said that those were ‘unilateral sanctions’ and not by the United Nations.

The Chinese ambassador made the remarks when a reporter wanted to know his views on various global initiatives including the Indo-Pacific strategy.

Ambassador Wen had a meeting with foreign minister AK Abdul Momen at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Responding to the question on sanctioned Russian ship’s heading towards China, the ambassador said he saw the media reports and hoped that any sort of sanction would not affect ordinary people and cooperation with any country.

Bangladesh has conveyed to the Russian side that they can send any ship except those 69 sanctioned ones carrying equipment for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

China supports any global initiative if it remains conducive to common development worldwide and avoids division or confrontation, said the Ambassador.

He said any initiative by a country should be ‘open and inclusive’ instead of being exclusive to a particular country or against any country.

The sanctioned Russian ship Sparta III (Ursa Major) was scheduled to dock at Mongla port in Bangladesh at the end of December last year and unload cargo destined for the Rooppur power plant in Pabna.

But the authorities denied the ship permission to dock at the port after officials got a letter from the US Embassy in Dhaka, saying that the ship was on a list of Russian vessels sanctioned by the US.

The ship is en route to the port of Shanghai, China, sailing at a speed of 10.4 knots and expected to arrive there on January 31, according to vesselfinder.com which provides real-time vessel data.

Asked about the sanctioned ship’s location, foreign minister Momen said they do not know anything further about the ship but reiterated that Bangladesh will not allow any sanctioned ship.

Regarding the situation along the border with Myanmar, he said the relevant ministries are working and they are also in touch with the Bangladesh mission in Myanmar.

‘The situation is not good,’ said the foreign minister, noting that people are moving from one place to another out of panic.

He said that no new entry from Myanmar will be allowed amid conflicts between two groups on the Myanmar side.

Sanctions on Russian ship unilateral, not by UN: China envoy

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, on the return of Russian ship sanctioned by the USA, said that those were ‘unilateral sanctions’ and not by...

www.newagebd.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Moscow has said the US is forcing neutral countries to join anti-Russian sanctions, citing Bangladesh denying berth to ship with cargo for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as an example of ‘forced solidarity’.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the remarks in a regular briefing on Feb 1, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka said in a statement on social media.

“Solidarity is something that comes from the soul, from the heart, from one's own analysis. It is about people of different views showing unity on an issue absolutely voluntarily and independently. What we see now is truly ‘forced solidarity’,” she said.

The ship, Ursa Major, was cleared to berth in Mongla port in December.

Bangladesh denied the ship entry after the US Embassy in Dhaka said the ship was actually sanction-hit Sparta-3.

Moscow tried to send the goods for the plant backed by Russia through India, but failed.

“The incident delayed the delivery of a batch of equipment for the Rooppur NPP under construction by more than a month, which is hardly in the Bangladeshi side’s best interests,” Zakharova said.

“We believe that US attempts to force third countries to join the anti-Russia sanctions are completely devoid of legitimacy and must be stopped.”

Bangladesh denying berth to ship example of US forcing countries to join sanctions: Russia

Moscow cites Bangladesh denying berth to ship with cargo for Roopppur Nuclear Power Plant as an example of ‘forced solidarity’

bdnews24.com

 

[Isa Khan]

Cargo for the Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) is being sent to Bangladesh using an alternative route, instead of the US-sanctioned Russian ship, the Rosatom nuclear corporation said.

The Russian state news agency Tass reported last Tuesday, quoting Rooppur's project implementing agency Rosatom.

Last December, the Russian vessel called "Ursa Major" was denied berth by Bangladesh shipping authorities as the vessel is under US sanctions.

The delay in delivering cargo will not affect the construction of the nuclear power plant, officials of the nuclear power plant project said.

An official of the Rooppur Power Plant Project said on Wednesday that Cargo for the Rooppur power plant is coming from Russia using an alternative ship. Due to this delay, the construction of the nuclear power plant will not be affected.

Rosatom sending cargos for Rooppur Power Plant thru’ alternative route

The delay in delivering cargo will not affect the construction of the power plant, officials of the project say

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Russia on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh's ambassador Kamrul Ahsan to protest Dhaka's decision to block the entry of Russian ships into Bangladeshi ports.

The Foreign Ministry said the envoy was told that "this step does not correspond to the nature of traditionally friendly bilateral relations" and may negatively affect the prospects of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

On Feb. 17, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said several dozen Russian vessels had been banned from calling at the ports of Bangladesh.

According to Zakharova, the step was taken under the threat of US sanctions.

She called the incident "another example of this intimidation" and regretted that it was not "the first time that Dhaka succumbed to Washington’s relentless pressure."

"By giving in to outright blackmail, it risks making the future of traditionally friendly Russia-Bangladesh relations contingent on the whims of a third country pursuing its own geopolitical goals," Zakharova said.

She stressed that Russia expects the leadership of Bangladesh "to find the strength to assert its national interests more resolutely" as it is "in their interest to develop a mutually beneficial partnership with Russia, which has come to the country’s aid more than once in different periods of its history."

Russia summons Bangladesh envoy for blocking entry of ships

Foreign Ministry says move not in line with 'traditionally friendly bilateral relations' - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

 

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh has sought a detailed report from its ambassador in Moscow to know what exactly was discussed with the Russian foreign ministry.

"We sought a detailed report from our ambassador. We are going to analyse what was discussed," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry following Bangladesh's decision to ban Russian ships (sanctioned) from calling at Bangladeshi ports, reported Russia's state-owned news agency TASS on Tuesday.

Shahriar Alam said they came to know that many other bilateral issues were discussed, not just a specific issue.

He said, "You know a complex situation has been created amid the Ukraine-Russia war.

"Bangladesh maintained its position in terms of voting patterns in the UN General Assembly and there will be another resolution in the GA. We are considering it. But we will let you know officially on Thursday regarding Tuesday's meeting in Moscow."

"We drew the attention of the head of the diplomatic mission to the reports about the decision of his country's authorities to ban Russian ships carrying cargoes for Bangladesh from calling at Bangladeshi ports," the Russian agency reported, quoting the Russian foreign ministry.

"This step runs counter to the traditionally friendly character of bilateral relations and can have a negative effect on the prospects for our cooperation in various spheres."

Last week, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka told TASS that 69 Russian ships (sanctioned) had been barred from calling at Bangladeshi ports.

However, according to the embassy, this step did not mean that Bangladesh had banned imports of Russian goods.

Later, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Bangladesh had made this decision under the threat of US secondary sanctions, according to a TASS report.

In January, Bangladesh told the Russian side that they could send any ship, except the sanctioned ones, carrying equipment for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Bangladesh hoped that Russia would now send non-sanctioned ships carrying the required materials.

Dhaka seeks detailed report from its ambassador in Moscow

Bangladesh has sought a detailed report from its ambassador in Moscow to know what exactly was discussed with the Russian foreign ministry. "We sought a detailed report from our ambassador.

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

The ship is still in Bangladeshi water. Last update 16th February.

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[Isa Khan]

The Russian ship under US sanctions has delivered the equipment it had been carrying for Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through two ship-to-ship transfers.

The Bangladesh flag carriers Aparajita and Shejuti received the equipment in mid-February and docked at Mongla for unloading, according to sources in the foreign ministry and at the power project.

The Russian ship Ursa Major is now heading back home after being at sea for around three months due to being refused permission to dock at ports by Bangladesh and India.

Marine Traffic Intelligence reported that the Russian ship is currently sailing in the Laccadive Sea and approaching the Arabian Sea, heading to Novorossiysk, Russia, with an estimated arrival time of 4 April 2023.

Lloyd's List reported that the ship left the Bay of Bengal on 20 March with at least one ship-to-ship transfer picked up around 10 February.

The Russian ship was due to anchor at Bangladesh's Mongla port on 24 December. Meanwhile, on December 20, the United States informed Bangladesh that the "Ursa Major" had been renamed Sparta-III, which was on a list of Russian ships sanctioned by the US.

Based on the US objection, the ship was denied access to Bangladeshi ports in December.

The ship later approached India for docking at West Bengal's Haldia port.

Failing to secure approval from India, it changed its direction and sailed for China on 15 January to unload the equipment at any port there.

But from 10 to 16 February, the ship started transferring the equipment to two Bangladeshi ships without heading to China.

On 16 March, the ship MV Aparajita transported about 1,200 tonnes of equipment to the sea port of Mongla in Bangladesh, according to a press release from Rooppur NPP's media wing.

Before that, in late February, over 2,700 tonnes of Russian equipment for the project was delivered to Bangladesh on two separate vessels.

The Rooppur NPP, equipped with two VVER-1,200 reactors of a total of 2,400 MW capacity, is being constructed under the Russian design.

The Engineering Division of Russia's Rosatom State Corporation is implementing the project as general designer and contractor.

As per project design, the first unit of the plant is scheduled to be connected to the grid by 2023 and the second unit by 2024.

Sanctioned Russian ship delivers nuke power equipment to Bangladeshi carriers

The Russian ship under US sanctions has delivered the equipment it had been carrying for Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through two ship-to-ship transfers. The Bangladesh flag carriers Aparajita and Shejuti received the equipment in mid-February and docked at Mongla for unloading...

www.tbsnews.net