State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Saturday said  Japan is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh. "Japan has played an important role in our economic development since our independence by contributing to the infrastructure development of Bangladesh. Japan, the land of the rising sun, the land of peace, the unyielding nation, has always stood by us," he said. The State Minister spoke at an event marking the historic Hiroshima Day Saturday night. Theater group Swapnadal organized the event at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA)'s Experimental Theatre Hall. "At the end of World War II, the atomic bombs explosion on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) by the imperialist United States was the most brutal and atrocious killing in the history of the world. As a result of dropping the atomic bomb, 80,000 people died instantly in the city of Hiroshima," the State Minister said. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki joined the event as the special guest, and lauded the initiative of Swapnadal and thanked the State Minister as well as Bangladeshi people for their compassion to the Hiroshima tragedy. Read:'Rhythmic Abstraction' begins at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka "During my stay in Bangladesh since October, 2019, I was impressed by the fact that so many Bangladeshis are familiar with the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The compassion shown today by Bangladeshis is really significant to us, thus the `Hiroshima Day’ will strengthen mutual understanding and amicable relationship between Japan and Bangladesh." The event included a panel discussion, an exhibition of video and installation art, anti-war photography, and more. An exclusive exhibition of anti-war photography, film, and installation art was also launched at the Experimental Theatre Hall premise. Additionally, the group showcased the 117th show of its anti-war drama 'Tringsha Shatabdi' at Experimental Theatre Hall. “For the past 21 years, Swapnadal has organized events to commemorate Hiroshima Day. As a theater group, we believe it is our duty to educate the public about the danger of nuclear weapons pose to the human race,” Swapnadal founder Zahid Repon said adding, "We demand a nuclear-weapons-free planet.” The first city to be struck by a nuclear weapon was Hiroshima. On August 6, 1945, Little Boy, an atomic bomb, was dropped on Hiroshima by the United States Army Air Forces. On August 9, 1945, the Fat Man nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Between 129,000 and 226,000 persons were murdered in the two bombings, the majority of them were civilians.

Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Naoki Ito has said the “Hiroshima Day" will keep inspiring people, especially the young generation, to become aware of the atomic bomb tragedies and the importance of peace.   "I hope that we, the people of Japan and Bangladesh, stand together to make this world more peaceful and harmonious for all," he said in a message marking the day that falls on August 6. Read:Over 1.6 million AstraZeneca doses received from Japan Ambassador Ito said he genuinely appreciates Bangladeshi people who have shown sympathy to the victims and expressed compassionate views for world peace.  Today marks the 76th anniversary of the tragedy in Hiroshima, the day when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima in 1945. "Since I came to Bangladesh in October 2019, I’ve been touched to realize so many Bangladeshi people know about the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and devote themselves to advocacy for peace," said the Ambassador.  The atrocity of the atomic bomb and even SASAKI Sadako’s paper cranes are in the textbooks for elementary schools.  The Ambassador said he knows many Bangladeshi people commemorate the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th as Hiroshima Day. Read: With eye on 3 SEZs, Japan wants to boost its investment in Bangladesh "That compassion the citizens of Bangladesh shown to the tragedies in Japan means a lot to us. Thus this `Hiroshima Day’ in Bangladesh is significant for our long-standing friendship and partnership." As humanitarian crises and pandemics spread across national borders, it seems that it is becoming more and more essential to share thoughts about peace and human tragedies and to show solidarity across our global community.  The Ambassador said, "Today, I reverently express my sincere condolences to the souls of the great number of atomic bomb victims. It is inscribed on the monument for atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima that “Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil.”  The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated, he said.  Read: Japan to grab any opportunity to resolve Rohingya crisis for regional stability As the only country that has experienced the horror of nuclear weapons, Japan has the mission to work closely with other countries and citizens toward realizing a world free of nuclear weapons. "It has been 76 years since the atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the number of survivors is getting fewer each year, it is all the more critical for us to remember the tragedies and inhumanity of using nuclear weapons, and pass the lessons we have learned on to future generations beyond borders," he said.