Bangladesh
Bangladesh-Japan Prime Minister will visit Japan in April
Dhaka, January 12: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed interest in visiting Japan in April this year.
She expressed this interest in response to the proposal of the newly appointed Japanese ambassador to Dhaka, Iwama Kiminori, to visit Japan. The Japanese Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at Ganabhaban. After the meeting, Prime Minister's Speech Writer (Secretary Rank) Nazrul Islam briefed the journalists.
He said that during the meeting, the Japanese ambassador offered Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Japan in March-April. The Prime Minister has also expressed interest in visiting in April. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was scheduled to visit Japan from November 29 to December 1. But that didn't happen.
Referring to the good relations between the two countries, the newly appointed ambassador of Japan told the Prime Minister that Japan and Bangladesh have long-standing ties. The ambassador assured to work to take this relationship to the next level.
Kiminori said future relations will be strategic. Japan will give full cooperation to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041. Stating that he will work to expand trade and investment between the two countries, Kiminori said that he will work to strengthen the existing Japan-Bangladesh framework for the growth of bilateral trade and commerce.
The ambassador said that he will work to bring core Japanese investment to Bangladesh and strengthen economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Regarding the Rohingya issue, he said, Bangladesh wants these Rohingyas to return to their own country. Japan will raise the issue bilaterally and in ASEAN forums.
Regarding humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas, he said, JICA is working with UNHCR to strengthen humanitarian assistance activities in Cox's Bazar and Bhasanchar. Besides, some Japanese NGOs are working in these areas.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Japan for its support in the construction of metro rail.
She said that Metrorail has received a huge response from the people. The Prime Minister expressed hope that Japan will continue to cooperate in the construction of other metro rail lines.
Sheikh Hasina called for Japanese investment in Sabrang Tourism Special Economic Zone. He also invited Japan to take responsibility for coastal management of this economic zone.
The Prime Minister thanked Japan for the construction of the third terminal at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which will be inaugurated next year. She also assured that a Japanese company will be given the responsibility of managing the terminal.
