Bangladesh faces dilemma over Russian helicopter deal amid US sanctions
Bangladesh is caught in a difficult position after purchasing two Russian helicopters worth Tk 4 billion under a deal signed by the previous Awami League government. Although the country has already paid Tk 2.98 billion to the Russian supplier, the aircraft remain undelivered due to US sanctions on Moscow, raising concerns of both financial losses and diplomatic fallout.
According to officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the helicopters in question are MI-171A2 models, supplied by JSC Russian Helicopters. Delivery was initially scheduled in two phases—one in February and the other in April—via a chartered cargo aircraft. However, the handover process was halted because the Russian company fell under US sanctions following the Ukraine war.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has since written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging a diplomatic solution to avoid complications with Washington while also safeguarding Bangladesh’s investment. “Receiving the helicopters could strain ties with the United States, but cancelling the deal outright would mean a significant financial loss,” said one official familiar with the matter.
The procurement traces back to February 2021, when Bangladesh Police and Russian company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through videoconference. The then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Benazir Ahmed, and the company’s director general, Andrey I. Boginsky, formalized the agreement. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the purchase in October 2021, followed by a formal contract signing in November of the same year.
At the time, police headquarters announced that the two helicopters, classified as civilian aircraft, were intended to establish a new police air wing to enhance law enforcement capacity, particularly for emergency response, surveillance, and disaster management.
The sanctions, however, have thrown the plan into uncertainty. Analysts warn that Bangladesh risks losing nearly Tk 3 billion if the deal collapses without a settlement.
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