Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the “rock-solid foundation” of Bangladesh-Japan relations from which “we all benefit today”.
He was speaking at a virtual event of the Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Department of Japan Studies, University of Dhaka, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki was also present.
The foreign minister said after independence, Bangabandhu had to act quickly and look for friends who could help.
He realised then that there were many similarities in the situation he was faced with in the post-World War II situation of Japan. Yet Japan had spectacularly risen from the pains and pangs and ashes of destruction and in no time re-established herself as a global economic power.
Within two months of Bangabandhu’s return, in March 1972, the Japanese government sent a three-member delegation led by the great Takashi Hayakawa.
He handed over the invitation by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato for Bangabandhu to visit Japan.
Bangabandhu visited Japan from 18-24 October 1973. He was accompanied by his younger daughter Sheikh Rehana and youngest son Sheikh Russel. It was during this visit he laid the rock-solid foundation of Bangladesh-Japan relations.
At the official talks between the two Prime Ministers, it was agreed that Japan would extend cooperation in agriculture for Bangladesh to attain self-sufficiency in food production, the foreign minister said.
The two countries would have exchanges to enhance trade and other economic relations.
Bangabandhu also secured grant of rice under food aid and commodity loan of nine billion yen on the soft terms. In addition, Japan decided to contribute one million US dollars to assist the repatriation of the refugees from India.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Tanaka viewed that the visit of Bangabandhu to Japan had laid a solid foundation for the lasting friendly relations between the two countries as well as the two peoples.
“Thus began a partnership which has only grown from strength to strength over the years and now we enjoy a comprehensive partnership which has laid bare a vista of opportunities for the business people of the two countries,” he said.
The foreign minister also shared his own experience and said “I was working in the Commerce Ministry on those days and we faced challenges as we had to import everything, from pin to ship from abroad. And we did not have a cash reserve and at the same time few international leaders termed Bangladesh a bottomless basket and it made my work more challenging.”
“When many countries started refusing to export to Bangladesh, at that time, Japanese companies came forward even with deferred payment to meet our essential import needs. I remember Merubaine, C-ito and many other Japanese companies who became our friends,” he said.
“Bangabandhu was keen on connectivity. He wanted to join the economically disadvantaged north-western region with the rest of the country.
“His vision was to build a bridge over the mighty Jamuna River. Japan was already engaged in feasibility study. Bangabandhu took advantage of his visit to firm up the arrangements and assistance for building the bridge. Today the most appropriately named Bangabandhu Bridge stands over the Jamuna as a hallmark of friendship between Bangladesh and Japan. And now, we are planning to build a railway bridge next to it in partnership with none else but Japan.
“At the banquet hosted by Prime Minister Tanaka, Bangabandhu said, ‘We have been watching with profound admiration and if I may say so, with a sense of pride as fellow Asian, the tremendous achievement of Japan in social and economic fields which constitute one of the most powerful influences of our time. At the heart of the spectacular achievement is the emphasis that Japan laid on the maximum utilization of human resources, creativity and ingenuity of man, his tenacity and resilience, his sense of discipline and dedication, all directed towards a great national end. All this also is a tribute to the wisdom and dynamism of leadership’.”
“Bangabandhu said the vision of Japanese Prime Minister that ‘every home is filled with laughter where senior citizens live peaceful and restful lives, where the eyes of youth shine bright with the light of hope’, a security ‘which enjoys a sense of tranquility and spiritual enrichment’ was one that not only held promise for Japan, but reflected the basic yearnings of his own people – his very own dream of Sonar Bangla.
“Bangabandhu also had engagements with the Japan-Bangladesh Association, Japan Foreign Trade Council, Federation of Economic Organization, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bangabandhu said that like others, the people of Bangladesh had been watching with great admiration the remarkable achievement of Japan in the economic and social fields. He also paid tribute to the creativity, discipline and dedication of the Japanese people which made such a transformation possible.
“Bangabandhu saw striking similarities between the two countries. Both had a homogenous population, language and culture, both had suffered immensely from the scourges of war, both suffered undue repression and both had to rebuild from the ashes of destruction. He returned from Japan with renewed hope for his people. In the process, he had established a robust engagement which now happens to be one the most important bilateral relations for Bangladesh,” said the foreign minister.
“Over the years, this relationship has further deepened and widened.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ensured through her visits in 1997, 2014 and 2019 that our relationship continues to grow for mutual benefit.
Japanese Prime Ministers have also visited Bangladesh, the latest being the immediate past Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2019. These high-level engagements have driven our relations towards an upward trajectory,” he said.
“With Japan we are now implementing a number of mega-projects for connectivity and power generation. We are engaged in Public-Private Economic Dialogue for strengthening business and investment ties. A special Export Processing Zone is being set up in Araihazar for the Japanese investors.
“We intend to conclude a Free Trade Agreement with Japan. These will create enormous scope for private sectors of the two countries to engage in trade and investment for mutual benefit,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Japanese embassy said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan and the East Asia Study Center, Dhaka University jointly launched two session online lecture series titled “Japan Lecture Series” on Wednesday.
At the launching Ambassador Ito Naoki said: “When it comes to friendship and partnership between Japan and Bangladesh, currently the focus is more on infrastructure development and business partnership under “BIG-B” initiative including Matarbari deep sea-port, Dhaka Metro or Terminal 3 of Dhaka Airport.
“Once completed, those mega-infrastructures will change the face of the country and would have a positive impact on the future of Bangladesh as well as the landscape of Japan-Bangladesh relations. In parallel to these business and economic partnerships, it is also important to foster mutual understanding and academic interactions.
“I hope this Japan Lecture Series will be able to contribute to the deepening of the mutual understanding of people of Japan and Bangladesh,” he said.
This year, Bangladesh will celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence.
The following year, 2022, both countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.
“It is my earnest hope that the interactions between our two countries will be enhanced in these milestone years,” said the ambassador.
Prof Ohashi Masaaki of University of the Sacred Heart, Japan gave a lecture titled “NGOs for International Cooperation in Japan and its Relations with the Japan Government and Academia”.
More than100 people, including students and faculty members of Dhaka University, participated in this online seminar live.
In the second session of the series which is scheduled on February 25, Prof Oiwa Takaaki of JICA Research Institute will give a lecture titled “Deconstruction of Regions: The Emerging Role of Sub-regional Cooperation in Asia”.
