Bangladesh and Japan have agreed to elevate the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries in the auspicious year of 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations. This was discussed when Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Honda Taro met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Sunday evening at the State guesthouse Padma. The Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister expressed the intent of Japan to add new depth and contents to the existing partnership and expected an official visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan later this year to elevate the ‘comprehensive partnership’ to a new height, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister recalled the historic visit of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in October 1973 which laid the foundation of today’s exemplary bilateral relations between the two countries. He also recalled the visit of the then Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014, when the two countries elevated the bilateral relationship to ‘Comprehensive Partnership’ level. The State Minister also recalled the successful visits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019 that have cemented deep-rooted friendly ties between the two countries. Highly praising Bangladesh’s spectacular socio-economic development under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, particularly Bangladesh’s graduation to a developing country, the Vice-Minister assured Japan’s continued support to the rapid socio-economic development of Bangladesh even after the country’s formal graduation in 2026. Also read: Bangladesh, India reiterate pledge to work towards citizen-centric consular mechanisms Both sides also discussed enhancing cooperation in various areas, including bilateral trade, Japanese FDI in Bangladesh, as well as people-to-people connectivity for mutual benefits. They also expressed the desire to enhance cooperation in international fora, including in the UN, particularly in the areas of SDGs, climate change, migration and UN reforms. The Vice-Minister also commended Bangladesh’s leadership role in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. The Japanese Vice-Minister HONDA Taro highly appreciated Bangladesh’s role in maintaining regional stability by hosting the Rohingyas and assured to continue Japan’s support towards their safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation. The State Minister sought Japan’s active support for a durable political solution to the Rohingya crisis. The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan visited Bangladesh from July 21-25 to strengthen Bangladesh-Japan bilateral relations. During the visit, he, along with JICA President Tanaka Akihiko, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. Also read: PM Hasina invited to visit Japan They also visited the JICA-funded Matarbari Power Plant project, Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps and attended a memorial ceremony in honour of the Holey Artisan victims involved in the MRT project. State Minister for Foreign Affairs also hosted a dinner in honour of the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Honda Taro at the State guesthouse Padma, where among others, JICA President Tanaka Akihiko, Member of the Parliamentary standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Executive Chairman of BIDA, ERD Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Secretary, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary, Managing Director of DMTCL were present.

Bangladesh and Japan on Monday signed an agreement on grant aid to help the Bangladesh government with a drilling rig for deep wells and related equipment to improve access to safe drinking water.