Chief Adviser urges stronger Japan-Bangladesh partnership
NN Online:
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called on Japan to deepen its cooperation with Bangladesh in key areas including investment, fisheries, humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees, and youth development through education and sports.
He made the appeal during a meeting with Miyazaki Katsura, Executive Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), held at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.
“Japan has always been a trusted friend,” Prof Yunus said. “During my recent visit, I was moved by the warmth and hospitality extended to my delegation.”
Miyazaki reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Bangladesh’s development journey, describing the country as one of Japan’s most important partners in Asia. “We are deeply saddened by the lives lost during the recent July unrest,” she added.
The Chief Adviser underscored the strategic significance of the Matarbari development initiative, calling it “the most important region for our country’s future.” He also stressed the need to harness Bangladesh’s maritime potential. “When I met the JICA President in Japan, I shared our ambition to become a sea-based economy,” he said.
Prof Yunus requested increased Japanese scholarships for Bangladeshi students and broader employment opportunities in Japan. He proposed that Japanese language instruction and workplace orientation be offered in Bangladesh to prepare youth for the job market abroad. “Many of our young people are eager to work in Japan, but language remains a barrier,” he noted.
On the Rohingya crisis, the Chief Adviser expressed deep concern. “Thousands of children are growing up in camps without hope. This frustration is a ticking time bomb,” he warned.
Miyazaki highlighted JICA’s ongoing support for reforms in Bangladesh’s judiciary, public administration, local governance, and health sectors as the country moves toward graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026. She also noted the launch of a Bangladesh-focused ICT human resource development project, involving collaboration with local governments, companies, and universities from both countries.
In terms of youth development, Prof Yunus praised the performance of Bangladeshi women athletes. “Our girls are achieving remarkable success. Just yesterday they reached another final,” he said, urging Japan’s support in enhancing training and health facilities for female athletes.
Miyazaki welcomed the suggestion and said Japan is already deploying volunteers to assist with education projects in many countries and will explore avenues to support women’s sports in Bangladesh.
The Chief Adviser also thanked Japan for recently signing over $1 billion in Loan and Grant Agreements to support economic reforms, railway infrastructure, and human resource development. He proposed raising Japan’s annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) ceiling from 300 billion to 450 billion Japanese Yen to scale up development efforts.
“Bangladesh will always cherish Japan’s enduring friendship and generous contributions,” Prof Yunus concluded.