Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought Japanese support for the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, their homeland, as the forcibly displaced people have become a burden on Bangladesh for the last several years.
She made this call when Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs HONDA Taro and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President TANAKA Akihiko met her at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a media briefing that the prime minister urged the Japanese to take initiative so Myanmar takes their displaced nationals back home in a dignified manner.
ALSO READ - PM asks int’l community to act more for Rohingya repatriation
In response, the Japanese parliamentary vice-minister said his country also wants a dignified repatriation of the displaced people.
Sheikh Hasina said three mega projects — Matarbari coal-fired power plant in Maheshkhali, third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and metro rail in Dhaka —being constructed by Japan would help develop Bangladesh.
In this regard, the JICA president said the government of Bangladesh is providing proper support to implement the mega projects and it is also determined to complete the Maheshkhali-Matarbari project.
HONDA Taro appreciated Bangladesh for its graduation from the status of least developed country (LDC).
"Many Japanese companies are keen to invest in Bangladesh," he was quoted as saying.
They congratulated the prime minister on construction of the Padma Bridge with own funds saying it would accelerate economic development of Bangladesh.
They said Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu Bridge connected the southern and northern regions directly with the capital.
Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the recent assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and paid tribute to him as a great friend of Bangladesh.
She recalled that Japan soon after the Liberation War recognised Bangladesh and since then became its strong development partner.
The Japanese vice-minister and the JICA president recalled the visit of Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014.
They said his visit elevated the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a comprehensive partnership level.
Talking about the Holey Artisan attack, Sheikh Hasina said no recurrence of such an incident has taken place due to the strong steps taken by law enforcement agencies.
She recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in 1973 and said he had laid the foundation of today's exemplary Bangladesh-Japan relationship.
The prime minister said Bangabandhu was a great admirer of Japan's socio-economic and technological development. He had also wanted to replicate the same here in Bangladesh, she added.
PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present.
