Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh ITO Naoki today hoped that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, peace, stability, socioeconomic development and democratic process of Bangladesh will continue. He conveyed the message while calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s deputy press secretary KM Shakhawat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting. He said that both also discussed the Rohingya issue and agreed that the more than one million forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens are a huge burden for Bangladesh. Read more: Momen praises Japan as its outgoing envoy Naoki meets him They put emphasis on the Rohingyas’ safe return to their homeland in Myanmar.  The Prime Minister highly appreciated Japan’s assistance to set up shelter for Rohingyas in Bhashanchar island after developing it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the businessmen of Japan to come up with larger investments as Bangladesh is a lucrative place for investment. The Prime Minister hoped that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan would be enhanced further. She appreciated Japan's support in implementing mega projects of Bangladesh such as Matarbari deep sea port, third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Dhaka Metro Rail. The Prime Minister sought continuous support in Bangladesh's development while the Japanese envoy assured of always standing beside the country in its development efforts. Read more: Japan will continue to work toward resolution of Rohingya issue: Ambassador Sheikh Hasina also sought Japanese cooperation in developing a dedicated tourist zone for foreigners. The Japanese envoy described it as a good initiative and expressed eagerness to cooperate. Sheikh Hasina congratulated the Japanese envoy for successful completion of his tenure in Bangladesh and his role in enhancing bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan. The Japanese envoy said the foundation of the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan had been forged through Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit in 1973. PM's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present in the meeting.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Monday said they expect that the next national election in Bangladesh will be held in a “free and fair” manner with the participation of all major political parties. “We expect the next election will be a better one. Free and fair elections need to be done here. That’s my strong hope,” he said while responding to a question at an event titled “Meet the Ambassador” held in a Dhaka hotel. The Ambassador said he knows that the Election Commission is working for a free and fair election and the government of Bangladesh is also telling that a free and fair election will be conducted. “It’s very important.” Read more: Myanmar situation doesn't allow full-scale Rohingya repatriation now: Japan At the same time, the envoy said, this is something that the political parties should decide but the expectation is that the election will be a participatory one and the major political parties will participate in it. Naoki said he heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and some police stuffed the ballot box the previous night which is something he did never hear in any other country.He said “ballot box stuffing” should never be repeated. Recalling 2018 election, Ambassador Naoki said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka had issued a statement of concern which was very unusual for his country though it was focused more on violence. Read more: Japan wants "strategic" partnership with Bangladesh through practical cooperation Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted the event in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh. Zillur Rahman, Executive Director of the Centre for Governance Studies moderated the programme.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ito Naoki, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today, a day after some leaders and activists of the party were attacked in Dhaka and Cumilla. The meeting which started at 10 am at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office ended around 11:30 am. BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and organising secretary Shyama Obaid were present at the meeting. Read:BNP holds candlelight vigil amid attack in city Talking to reporters after the meeting, Amir Khosru, also convener of BNP's foreign affairs committee, said Bangladesh-Japan relationship is long-standing. He said they discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries alongside the latest political situation in Bangladesh. Asked whether the latest attacks on BNP leaders and activists came up for discussion, he said, “I have already said we talked about contemporary political issues.” Read: BNP's candlelight vigil in Banani attacked by ruling party activists Last night, some BNP leaders, including standing committee member Selima Rahman, joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, organising secretary Shyama Obaid and executive committee member Tabith Awal, suffered injuries as ruling party activists reportedly attacked a candlelight vigil of the opposition party on Kamal Atartuk Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Dhaka’s Banani. Tabith, a BNP foreign affairs committee member, was admitted to United Hospital for treatment with a head injury. Earlier in the day, four people including BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu and his wife, were injured in an attack by miscreants at Monohorganj upazila in Cumilla. Read Japan seeks stronger cultural ties with Bangladesh engaging younger generation

Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has laid emphasis on engaging the younger generation in promoting cultural bondage through Ikebana, a traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. “I hope Ikebana will be loved by young people in Bangladesh,” he said on Friday while speaking at a function organized by Bangladesh Ikebana Association (BIA). The ambassador said there is a strong interest among the young students in Bangladesh about Japan, its language and culture. Also read: Japan honours businessman Abdul Haque with Order of the Rising Sun He urged the BIA to continue playing its role to further promote the friendship through better understanding of Japanese culture.

Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Tuesday said the inauguration of mega project Padma Bridge and other under-construction quality infrastructure projects will help boost foreign investors’ confidence in Bangladesh. “Padma Bridge is going to be opened on June 25. This is really a wonderful moment for the country," he said highlighting the growing presence of quality infrastructure in Bangladesh. Ambassador Naoki said clearly those who are looking at Bangladesh and its economy will have strong confidence in the improvement of quality infrastructure across the nation – in Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. This gives confidence in the minds of investors and in three to five years’ time from now, infrastructure development can be an advantage in attracting foreign investment in Bangladesh. The ambassador was speaking at "DCAB Talk" at Jatiya Press Club organized by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB). DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the programme while its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin delivered welcome remarks. Ambassador Naoki said the direct flight operations between Dhaka and Narita will soon be resumed which will give a sense of confidence among investors. He said Covid-19 pandemic delayed the overall preparations. Naoki said there is growing interest among the Japanese investors to come and invest in Bangladesh. “There’s no doubt that Bangladesh is going to be the fastest growing economy in Asia in this decade.” The ambassador highlighted the key factors, including growing quality infrastructure and stable environment. He said the Dhaka Metro rail will begin its commercial operation by December this year and Bangladesh is becoming a very important destination for investment. Also read: Padma Bridge: Khulna residents eagerly anticipating inauguration

Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki was the chief guest at the launching event held on Saturday, who unveiled the new Nissan Magnite model. Managing Director of Pacific Motors Ltd.- Intekhab Mahmud, Deputy Director-Farzana Khan, Assistant Director-Md. Najimul Haque and other Directors, Department heads and senior officials of the company were also present at the launching ceremony. The all-new Nissan Magnite stands as testimony to Nissan’s DNA of relentless innovation, Japanese engineering, and advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) technologies, featuring numerous first-in-class elements to provide customers with a differentiated, innovative, and accessible ownership experience. Also read: Bhasan Char needs more resources to fulfill Rohingyas’ expectations: Ambassador Naoki With a compelling combination of ‘Carismatic’ design and solid performance, the all-new Nissan Magnite further strengthens Nissan’s footprint in Bangladesh, catering to the market’s growing demand for SUVs with an expanded offering, said a media release. Bangladesh is also the latest addition to the Magnite’s 15 export markets – a list that includes Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Uganda, Kenya, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius, Tanzania and Malawi. Designed in Japan and manufactured in India, Nissan Magnite has come to represent the best of Nissan’s global SUV heritage. Also read: MRT symbolizes changing Dhaka’s face: Ambassador Ito Naoki Its versatile build, advanced technology and exceptional range of safety features has seen it emerge as one of our most-coveted offerings in recent years. This is evidenced by the significant increase in production, as well as the expansion of its export markets over the past months – and we are excited to now bring this eagerly-awaited SUV to our consumers in Bangladesh. As the first global product to launch under the Nissan NEXT transformation plan, the Nissan Magnite recently celebrated the production of 50,000 units, achieving this milestone within 15 months despite the impact of COVID-19 and the semiconductor shortage. Read The most popular car models in Bangladesh It has also has won numerous awards including BBC TopGear’s "Best Turnaround Vehicle in the Indian Market" and "Compact SUV of the Year 2021"; MotorOctane’s "Game-Changer of the Year" Autocar India's "Value for Money Car of the Year"; carandbike India's "Compact SUV of the Year"; carandbike India's "Gadget of the Year" and "Best Social Media Campaign"; and FlyWheel Auto Awards' "Special Jury".

The Japanese economic zone in Narayanganj's Araihazar will go into production in 2023, Ito Naoki, the country's ambassador to Bangladesh, said Thursday. The envoy announced the plan while paying a courtesy call on FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin in the afternoon. "The interest of Japanese companies is growing, especially around the Araihazar economic zone. There is an opportunity to further develop the economy of Bangladesh by taking advantage," he said, calling for making the investment climate friendlier. Also read: Special economic zones changing Bangladesh's industrial landscape: BEZA "Restriction on overseas remittance from branches, limitation in loans for working capital, restriction on royalty remittance, overdue payment, delay of letter of credit (LC), collection of additional income taxes and VAT, renewal of bond licence, the wage gap between inside and outside Export Processing Zone (EPZ), are creating barriers to investments," he said. Jasim Uddin assured the envoy that the FBCCI will work sincerely with the government to solve these problems. "More than a hundred Japanese companies have been doing business in Bangladesh for many years. Also, Japan is one of the major partners of Bangladesh in development projects," he added. "With the country's economic development, the lifestyle of Bangladesh's people has been upgraded. So, the size of the domestic market has also increased." Also read: Bangladesh a regional leader, economic force in S Asia: US "The popularity of Japanese products in this country is also relatively high. Japanese companies investing in Bangladesh are more likely to be profitable," the FBCCI president said.

Japan expects Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to pay an official visit to Japan in 2022, the year of 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, said Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki. On the auspicious occasion that falls on February 10, 2022, Bangladesh and Japan agreed to take their bilateral relations to the next level. The Japanese Ambassador highly appreciated the socio-economic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and assured of continuing its support to Bangladesh. This was discussed when Japanese Ambassador Naiko met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at his office on Thursday. Also read: Rohingya Repatriation: Japan to encourage Myanmar to take concrete measures The State Minister and the Ambassador expressed their satisfaction at the ever-expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries and agreed to organize befitting commemorative events both in Dhaka and Tokyo. Ambassador Naoki expressed that the inauguration of Metro Rail Line 6 in 2022 would be an appropriate event on the 50th anniversary. The Japanese envoy also highlighted that the Arihajar Special Economic Zone would see Japanese and international investment worth of US$ 1 billion beginning next year. Shahriar Alam thanked the Japanese government for their continued development assistance to Bangladesh and encouraged more Japanese private investment for the mutual benefits of the two countries. Alam appreciated the Japanese government for their continued support to the Rohingyas temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh and highlighted that their early repatriation is a must for the sake of stability and security in the region. He urged Japan to use her influence to persuade Myanmar and the international community to create a conducive environment in Myanmar for the safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas. Also read: Dhaka-Tokyo ties growing beyond bilateral front: Japanese Vice Minister Ambassador Naoki reiterated the commitment of the Japanese government’s continued support for the safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said Japan will keep working towards improving regional connectivity through infrastructure projects in the country. At the same time Tokyo will support Dhaka’s efforts at development and the stability, the ambassador said in a message marking two years as his country’s envoy in Bangladesh on Tuesday. "Japan will promote practical cooperation with Bangladesh to realize the vision of "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region," he said. Terming Japan the largest development partner of Bangladesh, the envoy said large-scale infrastructure projects that symbolize the country’s rapid economic growth are steadily underway.  The flagship projects are Dhaka Metro, expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Jamuna Railway Bridge, and Matarbari Deep Sea Port.  A trial run of Dhaka Metro Line 6 began in August, which is expected to open by the end of 2022.  "At the same time, we will redouble our efforts to improve the investment climate for Japanese companies as they expand their investment and their business. We will continue to address customs clearance, overseas remittance, import transaction settlement, and taxation challenges," said the ambassador. Read: Japan-Bangladesh focusing on infrastructure, business ties: Ito Naoki Resolving the issue of the Rohingya refugees is also crucial from the perspective of realizing FOIP,  he said. "The recent situation in Myanmar since the coup last February has made the repatriation of refugees more difficult," said the envoy. As the crisis is protracted, he said, it is urgent to improve the condition of refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, including education, skill training, and livelihood.  The envoy said they welcome the MoU recently signed between the government of Bangladesh and UN refugee agency to cooperate in the relocation plan of the refugees to Bashan Char Island.  "Japan will work with the international community for humanitarian assistance and the repatriation of the displaced people," Naoki said. Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations next year Japan’s new Prime Minister Kishida Fumio wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stating that he would strive to deepen cooperation between the two countries.  Japan will work "vigorously" to deepen understanding of Japan further, expand people-to-people exchange and promote Japanese culture in Bangladesh, by holding the anniversary events in 2022, said the envoy. For the sake of the safety and security of Japanese people living in Bangladesh and visitors to Bangladesh, he said, the embassy will make every effort to build a better relationship between Japan and Bangladesh in all fields, while asking for your opinions and cooperation. Read: Ambassador Ito sees 5 challenges ahead to elevate Dhaka-Tokyo ties The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted economic activities and cultural and people’s exchanges between Japan and Bangladesh during the one and half years.  "Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a year of deepening friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries," said the ambassador. From July to August, Japan provided more than 3 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine with Bangladesh.  "The gift from the Japanese people was to meet the needs of the people of Bangladesh facing the threat of COVID-19 infection," said the ambassador adding that they will also continue their efforts to make the vaccination available further to Japanese citizens in Bangladesh. 

Narrating the extraordinary tales of Bengali voyager Hariprabha Takeda, also revered as the 'first Bengali modern woman of Dhaka', a travel documentary titled "Hariprabha Takeda: an unsung traveller of Bengal" was screened on Saturday, 5 pm at the Liberation War Museum (LWM), Agargaon in the capital. Produced by traveller and documentary filmmaker Eliza Binte Elahi, the Rashik Barikdar directed documentary’s inaugural screening was joined by Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Ito Naoki as the chief guest. LWM trustee Mofidul Hoque and Dhaka University’s Department of History Bangabandhu Chair Professor Muntasir Mamun were also present at the inaugural screening as the special guests. Praising Eliza Binte Elahi’s effort behind producing the captivating story of the first Bengali modern woman of Dhaka, guests and audiences lauded the documentary film after its inaugural screening at the LWM auditorium. Read:Hasina seeks Japan’s support for early solution to Rohingya crisis “On behalf of our Embassy and all the Japanese people, I wholeheartedly thank Eliza for initiating the documentary, which must have faced difficulties in the making under this Covid situation. You have dealt with the subject which goes beyond the border for Bangladesh, so this is a cultural story regarding the cultural exchange between Japan and Bangladesh. I was really stunned while watching this documentary," ambassador Naoki said at the event. "I learned about the story of Hariprabha Takeda three months ago, when I attended the Cosmos Foundation’s virtual dialogue on "Bangladesh-Japan Relations: Prognosis for the Future" from renowned Bangladesh scholar Monzurul Huq, who really emphasized the significance of Hariprabha’s story, and the history of Japan and Bangladesh; the friendship and partnership between the two countries, and the people to people exchange. She was a really courageous woman, a pioneer who overcame the difficulties of her time. Though there are cultural similarities between Japan and Bangladesh (rice culture, fish eating culture etc) which might have helped her to get familiarized herself in Japan, nonetheless, her story is truly fascinating,” Naoki said at the event.