Japan has welcomed the 13th Parliamentary Election of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, held on February 12, as credible and largely peaceful.

In a statement, Japanese Press Secretary Kitamura Toshihiro said that an election observer mission from Japan, headed by former Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Watanabe Masato, conducted on-site monitoring of the election.

The mission consisted of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, as well as an external expert.

“From Japan, an election observer mission headed by Mr. Watanabe Masato, former Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, consisting of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh as well as an external expert, conducted monitoring activities on site,” the statement said.

The statement added that, as far as Japan’s Election Observer Mission was able to inspect on site, the election process was conducted in accordance with established procedures.

Japan welcomed the further promotion of Bangladesh’s efforts as a democratic nation and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing cooperation under the “Strategic Partnership” framework toward the development and prosperity of Bangladesh, as well as further development of bilateral relations.