The Effects of Political Changes in the Relationship between Bangladesh and Russia (USSR) in 1971-2014

Abstract

The article presents an overview of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. It analyzes the main directions of Bangladesh’s cooperation with its leading partners. The author studies the changing pattern of Bangladesh’s foreign policy since it gained its independence in 1971 till the present. He focuses on the changing pattern of foreign policy of Bangladesh regarding bilateral relation with Russia during different regimes under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Sheikh Mujib), General Ziaur Rahman (Zia), General H.M. Ershad (Ershad), Khaleda Zia, Sheikh Hasina and the Caretaker Government. The author seeks to link the domestic changes in the country in 1970-2000-ies, namely the change of governments and regimes, with the adjustment of the foreign policy priorities, including relations with Russia. The article shows dependence of Bangladesh’s foreign policy priorities on interests of successive power political forces.