Bangladesh, July 30 -- Bangladesh cannot facilitate a second-currency-payment system with Russia outside the US dollar at this moment due to international financial regulations, officials say.

However, Dhaka has suggested that a Russian delegation negotiate directly with the Bangladesh Bank (BB) to explore how to settle outstanding loans and bilateral trade using an alternative currency like the Indian Rupee (INR), they say.

The development emerged during a preparatory meeting held in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming "Bangladesh-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation (IGC)".

The meeting included representatives from Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division (ERD), relevant ...