United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called for the expedited development of key infrastructure in the Matarbari region, aiming to transform the coastal area into Bangladesh's premier manufacturing and export-orientated free trade zone. Prof Yunus announced that the development of the MIDI region would be a focal point during his upcoming two and a half days of official visit to Japan, beginning on May 28, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.  Ways needed to overcome hurdles for stronger ties with Pakistan: Chief Adviser He is scheduled to attend the 30th Nikkei Future of Asia conference in Tokyo and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 30, aiming to secure funding for key projects. During a high-level meeting on Monday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, Prof Yunus reviewed the progress of the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI). The session was chaired by Principal Secretary Md Siraj Uddin Miah and attended by SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, along with secretaries from the Road Transport, Shipping, Energy, Power and Local Government ministries. Sarwar Alam, Director General of the MIDI Cell, presented a comprehensive review of ongoing MIDI projects. Emphasising the strategic importance of the region, Professor Yunus said, "We envision Matarbari as the nation's largest hub for ports, logistics, manufacturing and energy. To realise this vision, we must attract substantial foreign investment." He highlighted the interest of international investors in these sectors and underscored the necessity of a master plan to facilitate such investments. The Chief Adviser directed the Road Transport and Shipping Secretaries to accelerate the construction of roads connecting the MIDI region to the rest of the country and to develop terminals capable of accommodating large ocean-going container vessels. He also stressed the importance of urban development in the area, including building a planned city to support the anticipated influx of workers in the free trade zone and associated industries. The meeting also revealed Japan's intention to establish its second exclusive Japanese economic zone within the MIDI region. Araihazar, Narayanganj, is the site of the first Japanese Economic Zone. It has already attracted sizeable foreign investments. Besides, several international companies, including Saudi Arabian petrochemical giant Aramco, Abu Dhabi Ports, Saudi Arabian port operator Red Sea Gateway, Japanese power producer JERA and Malaysian petrochemical company Petronas, have expressed interest in investing in the area. Dhaka has recently signed an agreement with Japanese firms Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. and TOA Corporation to construct the country's first deep-sea port at Matarbari. This project, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is a cornerstone of the MIDI initiative and is expected to enhance the region's connectivity and economic potential. BNP delegation to meet Chief Adviser on April 16 The MIDI initiative represents a collaborative effort between Bangladesh and Japan to transform the Moheshkhali-Matarbari region into a strategic economic corridor, integrating logistics, energy, and industrial development.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Wednesday urged Japan to enhance its investment in Bangladesh, particularly in emerging sectors such as automobiles, ICT, medical equipment, light engineering, consumer electronics and tourism. The President made the request during a meeting with newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Shinichi SAIDA at Bangabhaban. Ambassador SAIDA presented his credentials to the President at Bangabhaban, where a smart contingent of the Presidential Guard Regiment accorded him a guard of honour. After the meeting, President’s Press Secretary Md. Sarwar Alam briefed reporters, highlighting the key points of their discussion. President Shahabuddin said that Japan is Bangladesh’s largest bilateral development partner, with the relationship between the two nations recently elevated to a strategic partnership. He emphasised Japan’s commitment under the BIG-B Initiative (Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt), which has been pivotal for Bangladesh’s development. To date, the country has received over USD 23 billion in Japanese grants and loans. President urges Kuwait to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh The President expressed satisfaction with the growing volume of bilateral trade, currently standing at around USD 4 billion annually, and acknowledged Japan as one of Bangladesh’s top five export destinations. He highlighted the presence of over 350 Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh and encouraged further investment in diverse sectors. The President also urged the ambassador to consider increasing the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, particularly caregivers and nurses, while seeking Japanese support for technical and language skill development for prospective Bangladeshi employees. Acknowledging Japan’s continued humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya population in Bangladesh, President Shahabuddin requested the Japanese government to persist in its efforts to ensure the safe, sustainable, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The President also extended an invitation to the Emperor, Empress, and members of the Japanese Imperial Family to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. In response, Ambassador SAIDA expressed Japan’s keen interest in diversifying its investments in Bangladesh and assured the President of his full cooperation in strengthening bilateral ties during his tenure. President’s Military Secretary Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury, Press Secretary Sarwar Alam, and Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin were present during the meeting.

Bangladesh and Japan want to elevate the bilateral relations to ‘strategic partnership’ level during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Japan. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Japan from November 29 to December 1, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The planned visit was discussed when the Director General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arima Yutaka met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in Dhaka on Thursday. At the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral relations between the two countries. They particularly highlighted the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan in May 2014, when she and the then Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe elevated the bilateral relations between the countries to ‘Comprehensive Partnership’ level, and also the visit of Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in September 2014, when the two countries forged deeper economic partnership under BIG-B. Read: PM’s Japan Visit: Dhaka to seek more investment, financing for big projects Both sides expected that during PM Hasina’s upcoming visit, Bangladesh and Japan would foster deeper economic partnership in terms of development cooperation, trade and investment, human resources development, agriculture, ICT, education, defence dialogue and exchanges, people-to-people connectivity, repatriation of Rohingyas, etc. The two sides also expressed the desire to enhance cooperation in international fora, including on climate change, UN reforms, disarmament and non-proliferation, etc. Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki and Director General (East Asia and Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also joined the meeting. The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is on a two-day visit to Dhaka to discuss the preparations of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Japan.