PM Hasina likely to visit Japan end of November

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Japan at the end of November as the two countries are eyeing to further strengthen their “comprehensive partnership.”

“They (the Japanese side) have invited PM Hasina. We are working on it,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters at his office on Tuesday.

In May, 2014, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with Sheikh Hasina in Tokyo and they jointly launched the “Bangladesh-Japan Comprehensive Partnership.” In September same year, Abe held a summit meeting with Hasina in Dhaka.

Japan recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign nation on February 10, 1972, and the year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Japan.

Japan sees Bangladesh as a “rapidly developing economy” and an “attractive” investment destination.

Located at the nodal point between Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Japan also sees Bangladesh as an “important partner” in realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.

Momen recently visited Japan and paid tribute to former Prime Minister Abe attending his state funeral in Tokyo on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh after he was assassinated.

Later in a courtesy meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Momen expressed deep grief over the death of Abe on behalf of Prime Minister Hasina and the people of Bangladesh.

Recalling Abe’s contributions, he said, Abe was a true friend of Bangladesh and during his time, the relationship between the two countries developed into a comprehensive partnership.