Japanese Ambassador Naoki Ito has said that the Dhaka-Tokyo partnership has shown a ‘remarkable progress’ in recent years. That progress, he said, is represented by the projects including the third terminal of the Dhaka International Airport, Dhaka MRT and Matabari-Moheshkari area development as well as the Kanchpur Meghna and Gumti second Bridges construction.
He was hosting a reception on Tuesday night at his residence marking the Japan national day to celebrate the first birthday of the Emperor Naruhito after the enthronement last year. Planning Minister MA Mannan was also present, among others. The ambassador said the year 2020 will be a ‘very special year’ because it celebrates the birth centenary of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Shekh Mujibur Rahman as well as Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
He also touched upon the first Friendship-city MOU signing between Japan and Bangladesh, Naruto City and Narayanganj City, as the good example of strengthening ties between the two countries and expressed his will to redouble the efforts to expand exchanges of people between Japan and Bangladesh.
The Ambassador stressed the importance of early repatriation of Rohingya displaced people and said that Japan will work towards that end. He also handed over Ambassador’s commendation to the Bangladesh Ikebana Association for its long-standing dedication to strengthen cultural ties between Japan and Bangladesh through Ikebana, Japanese-style flower arrangement, since 1973.
