Referring to Japan’s friendship with Bangladesh and India, outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori on Sunday said the spirit of connectivity transcends borders and politics creating the trust needed to achieve regional stability and mutual growth.
As a friend of Bangladesh and India, Japan believes that the relations based on mutual trust is "essential" for exploring regional connectivity, said the Japanese envoy at a seminar.
Kiminori is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Tokyo wrapping up his two years tenure in Bangladesh.
"In discussing the issue of connectivity, I cannot but touch upon the current relations between Bangladesh and India," he said, adding that he finds the recently held Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and India at the foreign secretary-level a "good signal" to that end.
Supported by the Embassy of Japan, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), in collaboration with the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO) hosted the international seminar on "Reconnecting the Bay of Bengal Region: Exploring the Convergence of Interests" at the BIISS auditorium.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain spoke at the seminar as the chief guest while the first working session was chaired by Chairperson, Bay of Bengal Institute, Cosmos Foundation Tarik A. Karim.
Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Chairman of BIISS and Major General Iftekhar Anis, Director General of BIISS also spoke.
Ambassador Kiminori said the Bay of Bengal region holds an immense potential for trade and investment.
He briefly talked about Myanmar, noting that they have to see the reality along the borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"Specially, we have to think about how to deal with the Rohingya crisis," he said, highlighting the importance of continuing discussion with all stakeholders to deal with the situation in the future.
The Ambassador said Japan has been continuously supporting to ease the burden on Bangladesh and its people. "We will continue to do so under the new government."
In his speech, Foreign Adviser Hossain said they are aware of the civil war situation currently prevailing in Myanmar, and the 1.2 million Rohingyas who were forcibly displaced from the Rakhine state under extreme atrocities, and are sheltered in Bangladesh for the last 7-plus years.
There has been no progress in their repatriation and the situation is further complicated by a non-state actor, the Arakan Army taking control of the entire border with Bangladesh, he said.
The Adviser is just back from an informal consultation in Bangkok at the invitation of the Thai Foreign Minister, where the Foreign Ministers of Myanmar and Laos, Deputy Foreign Minister of China and the Indian Foreign Secretary were present.
"I told them in no uncertain terms that peace and order will not be possible in Myanmar, and consequently in the region, unless the Rohingyas lodged in Myanmar can go back to their homes with security and rights," Hossain said.
Bangladesh must address pressing challenges, seize opportunities: Foreign Adviser
It is incumbent on Myanmar and the regional powers to create a congenial atmosphere for their return, said the Foreign Adviser.
Ambassador Kiminori said the Bay of Bengal's strategic importance is "undisputed" and by reconnecting this region, they are not merely creating economic opportunities, but they are fostering peace, stability and prosperity for the future generations.
The Ambassador said Japan remains committed to working hand in hand with Bangladesh and other partners to realise the vision of a "connected, resilient and economically vibrant" Bay of Bengal region.
He expressed Japan’s commitment to continuing cooperation with Bangladesh in the future.
"I sincerely hope this country’s continued prosperity," said the envoy, announcing his completion of tenure in Dhaka.