Japan ready to help Bangladesh solve Rohingya crisis, envoy tells PM

Newly-appointed Japanese ambassador in Dhaka Naoki Ito on Monday said his country is ready to extend any kind of assistance to Bangladesh for solving the protracted Rohingya crisis.

“We want a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis and we’re ready to provide any kind of support to Bangladesh in this regard,” he said.

The Japanese envoy made the remark when he paid a courtesy call on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her Jatiya Sangsad Office here this evening.

After the meeting, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

The prime minister said the local people of Cox’s Bazar are suffering a lot due to the presence of huge number of Rohingyas.

She also feared the rise of anti-social elements if the Myanmar nationals stay there for a long time.

Sheikh Hasina highly appreciated Japanese assistance in Bangladesh’s development efforts since its independence.

She also recalled Japanese support to rebuild war-ravaged Bangladesh when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home after independence.

The prime minister said the only aim of the Father of the Nation was to liberate the country and ensure basic needs of the common people.

She said the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Japan will be celebrated in 2022.

Sheikh Hasina also referred to the Bangladesh-Japan relationship in the fields of trade, commerce and investment.

She said her government is setting up 100 economic zones across the country for further industrialization and generating more employment and lands have been allocated for the Japanese investors in Araihazar and Gazipur.

“The Japanese entrepreneurs can set up industries there according to their needs,” she said.

The prime minister also remembered Japan’s recognition to independent Bangladesh and said Bangabandhu had laid the foundation of relations between the two countries.

Sheikh Hasina appreciated Japan for its engagement in different development projects in Bangladesh, saying as many as 310 Japanese companies are now working in the country.

Referring to the initiatives of the BBIN and BCIM Economic Corridor, she said three seaports –Chattogram, Mongla and Payra–would be modernised for boosting connectivity and trade and commerce.

The premier said the Cox’s Bazar Airport is being developed for turning the tourist town into a hub between the east and west as well as promotion of tourism.

Pointing out various mega projects being executed in Bangladesh by the Japanese assistance, the ambassador said Bangladesh is the longest and largest development partner of Japan.

He, however, said Japan wants smooth and speedy implementation of the projects being implemented by Tokyo’s support.

Mentioning that Bangladesh is a good destination of investment, he said: “We hope to elevate further the level of cooperation between the two friendly countries.”

Ito told Sheikh Hasina that Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe lauded her dynamic leadership and he (Abe) is looking forward to further strengthening the development partnership between the two countries.

The Japanese ambassador put emphasis on increasing exchange of visits by politicians and parliamentarians between the two countries.

Ito commended the countdown event on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation held on 10 January. “This is an unforgettable event,” he remarked.

The Japanese ambassador thanked the prime minister for meeting and sharing sorrows with the family members of Holey Artisan victims during her visit to Japan.