Japan ambassador Naoki pays courtesy call on PM

Ambassador ITO Naoki paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to hand over the photo book ‘A Visit to Japan by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1973’ at the National Parliament Building on Monday (June 20).

The photo book is newly published by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh. The Embassy of Japan has kept these 50 original photos in an album since 1973, said a press release on Tuesday (June 21).

The release added that Sheikh Hasina commended the photo book publication on her father’s historic visit to Japan and read it through to the end while turning each page.

Ambassador ITO expressed his gratitude for Her Excellency’s continuous efforts to strengthen our bilateral relations based on the foundations Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman built during his visit to Japan in 1973, it added.

The then Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Japan from October 18 to 24, 1973, with his daughter Sheikh Rehana and youngest son Sheikh Russel. At the time of Bangabandhu’s visit, the Japanese people strongly supported the cause of independence. They extended heartfelt sympathy to war-torn Bangladesh, mirroring their own experiences since 1945. At the banquet in honor of PM Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, PM Tanaka Kakuei conveyed in person that Japan would continue to support Bangladesh's nation-building. That is how Japan's journey as a prominent development partner began.

In the meeting, Ambassador ITO Naoki expressed his sympathy for the damage caused by flood in the Sylhet region. He congratulated on the opening of the long-sought Padma Bridge as a wonderful milestone of development.

They exchanged views on the various issues including infrastructure development, trade and investment, and importance of early repatriation of ‘Rohingya’ refugees. They talked about Honorable Prime Minister’s possible visit to Japan later in the year, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.