Dhaka-Tokyo friendship is flourishing for mutual benefits: PM

Bangladesh and Japan are currently enjoying a very friendly relationship and the friendship is getting deeper day by day, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.

She made the remarks to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi who called on her at the bilateral meeting room of Akasaka Palace Guest House in Tokyo.

PM’s deputy press secretary KM Shakhwat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said Hasina and the Japanese foreign minister praised the friendly relationship existing between Bangladesh and Japan. They observed that the friendship is gradually increasing.

PM Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh-Japan relations emanate from the unwavering support of Japanese people for the cause of the independence of Bangladesh.

She mentioned that Japan recognised Bangladesh soon after its independence on February 10, 1972.

“Last year (2022), we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between our two countries,” she was quoted as saying.

The Bangladesh premier thanked the government and the people of Japan for their part in the elaborate celebrations, which further strengthened bilateral ties and people-to-people bonds.

Expressing happiness to undertake her sixth visit to Japan as the prime minister of Bangladesh, she recalled her visit to Japan in 1997, when the two countries observed the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.

She recalled the official visit of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan on 18-24 October 1973, which laid the rock-solid foundation for today's exemplary Bangladesh-Japan relations.

“Bangabandhu was an ardent admirer of Japan's development model and was inspired to build his own war-ravaged country with Japan's experience,” she said.

Hasina said Japan is the largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh. “Japan's contribution is evident in major development initiatives being undertaken in Bangladesh,” she said.

She thanked Japan for sustained and generous support over the years to Bangladesh's socio-economic advancement.

She said Bangladesh counts on Japan's continued support and cooperation to turn Bangladesh into a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041 as per the Vision-2041.

The Bangladesh PM sought Japan’s support in its bid to become a vice-president of the Asian Development Bank.

She also sought Japan's support, as a Council member country of the IMO, for Bangladesh's candidature for IMO Secretary General Post as its election would be held on 17-18 July 2023 in London.

Japanese FM Yoshimasa highly appreciated the ongoing development of Bangladesh in every sector including agriculture, education, ICT and health under the leadership of PM Hasina. “You are advancing your country,” he said.

He said that Japan was always beside Bangladesh for its development and will remain in the future.