Bangladesh, Japan seek strong strategic ties

Bangladesh and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their strategic partnership, with the two sides putting greater trade and investment, economic cooperation, energy security, skilled manpower and defence ties.

The commitment was made during the seventh Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Dhaka on Wednesday, where the two countries held comprehensive discussions on the full range of bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues, Foreign Ministry said.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam and Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister NAMAZU Hiroyuki led their respective delegations at the consultations.

The discussions covered high-level exchanges, trade and investment, the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the BIG-B Initiative, energy security and green energy, defence cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

The two sides also discussed the Rohingya crisis, regional developments and cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations.

Both sides described Bangladesh-Japan ties as longstanding and reaffirmed their shared commitment to consolidating and broadening the Strategic Partnership.

NAMAZU briefed the Bangladesh side on Japan’s vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed Tokyo’s continued cooperation with Dhaka through the EPA, BIG-B Initiative and Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework.

Japan also welcomed the recent handover of five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy under its security cooperation framework.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam highlighted Japan’s longstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s development and expressed hope that the proposed EPA would help increase Japanese investment and expand bilateral trade.

He specifically acknowledged Japanese support for major infrastructure projects under the BIG-B Initiative, including the Matarbari Deep Sea Port and Power Project, Dhaka Metro Rail and the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Dhaka sought continued Japanese support for expanding bilateral trade and investment, as well as cooperation in renewable energy and sustainable development.

The two sides also attached importance to expanding people-to-people ties, particularly by creating more opportunities for Bangladeshi Specified Skilled Workers in Japan.

They agreed on the importance of expanding educational, cultural and civil society exchanges to promote greater mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The consultations also addressed the Rohingya crisis, with Bangladesh highlighting the humanitarian and socio-economic burden of hosting more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Asad Alam reiterated Bangladesh’s position that their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar remains the only viable and lasting solution to the crisis, while thanking Japan for its continued humanitarian support.

The consultations also provided an opportunity to discuss high-level exchanges between the two countries.

NAMAZU conveyed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Japan at a mutually convenient time.

He also invited Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to visit Japan in his capacity as President of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Bangladesh, in turn, invited Prime Minister Takaichi to pay an official visit to Dhaka at a suitable time.
The development comes as both countries seek to give greater political and economic substance to their Strategic Partnership through expanded high-level engagement.

During a separate courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, NAMAZU said Japan regarded Bangladesh as an important partner in South Asia and reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship.

Shama expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the consultations and reiterated Dhaka’s commitment to advancing the Strategic Partnership.

She appreciated Japan’s continued development assistance through the BIG-B Initiative and OSA programme, while welcoming increased Japanese investment and enhanced economic cooperation.
She also expressed hope for greater opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers in Japan.

The two sides expressed confidence that the Strategic Partnership would continue to deepen and expand in the coming years.

The next round of Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations is expected to be held in Tokyo in 2027.