Japan, Bangladesh seek to deepen strategic partnership

Japan has expressed its intention to further deepen and broaden bilateral relations with Bangladesh under the two countries’ “Strategic Partnership”, as Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi paid a courtesy call on President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday.

During the meeting at Bangabhaban, Ambassador Saida handed over a congratulatory message from Japanese Emperor Naruhito to President Fakhrul on his assumption of office.

The ambassador said Japan would continue supporting the government’s efforts to build a “new Bangladesh” and expand cooperation across a wide range of areas, according to the Japanese Embassy.

President Fakhrul expressed his gratitude to the Emperor for the message and appreciated Japan’s longstanding friendship and development partnership with Bangladesh.

He particularly acknowledged Japan’s cooperation in major infrastructure projects, including the Dhaka Metro Rail and Meghna Bridge. He also expressed hope for further expansion of bilateral relations in the coming years.

The discussions covered infrastructure, trade and investment, human-resource development, agriculture, energy and employment, according to the President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam.

President Fakhrul also thanked Japan for providing employment opportunities to Bangladeshi workers and called for exploring the establishment of vocational training institutions in Bangladesh. He urged Japan to increase scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students.

He also sought greater Japanese investment in different parts of Bangladesh, particularly in the northern region, in areas such as crop and fruit production and agricultural-product processing. The Japanese ambassador expressed interest in expanding economic cooperation in these areas.

The President further appreciated Japan’s humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas and sought continued support for their safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.

He thanked Ambassador Saida for Japan’s role in strengthening bilateral ties and reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to elevating the longstanding relationship with Japan to a strategic partnership.

The meeting comes as Dhaka and Tokyo seek to broaden their relationship beyond traditional development cooperation, with greater emphasis on trade, investment, skills development, energy and employment.