PM seeks Japan’s support for investment, Rohingya repatriation

Focus on technology transfer and skilled workforce development in meeting with Taro Aso

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today sought Japan’s support for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar during a meeting with a delegation of Japanese lawmakers led by former prime minister Taro Aso.

He also called for greater Japanese investment, expanded bilateral trade and stronger cooperation in human resource development.

The delegation of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) met Tarique Rahman at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel at 3:00pm local time, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.

During the meeting, the prime minister thanked Taro Aso for his continued contributions to strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Japan through his leadership of the parliamentary friendship league.

He also recalled meeting Aso in 2006, when he visited Japan as BNP’s senior joint secretary general.

Tarique Rahman said Aso had played a consistently positive and constructive role in developing bilateral relations during his tenures as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Aso’s long-standing personal engagement with Bangladesh had also helped deepen the friendship between the two countries, he added.

Both sides emphasised the need to strengthen political, economic and people-to-people ties.

Following the signing of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Tarique Rahman sought Aso’s support for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh, expanded bilateral trade and greater technology transfer.

He also expressed hope for Japan’s continued assistance in implementing Bangladesh’s development priorities and developing skilled human resources.

The prime minister invited Aso and members of the parliamentary friendship league to visit Bangladesh, expressing hope that such a visit would further strengthen parliamentary friendship, mutual cooperation and bilateral relations.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon were present.

Senior Japanese lawmakers and Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi also attended the meeting.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman reached Tokyo today at 9:15am local time on a four-day official visit, leading a 16-member high-level delegation.