January’s Election Was Held Constitutionally: Japanese Ambassador

"No, we don't have any problem in dealing with your government. We think the election that took place at the beginning of January this year was constitutional," he said in interactions with Dhaka-based diplomatic correspondents.

He added: "The elections were held constitutionally . . . At least, from our point of view, there was no legal flaw at all."

Sadoshima's comments came as he joined the DCAB Talks hosted by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium while president of the forum Mainul Alam moderated the interaction.

The envoy also expressed his happiness as Japanese companies last year recorded unprecedented sales despite the political unrest in Bangladesh in the run up to the elections.

"We are very relieved on one hand, but we wonder what is behind such record high sales of our companies, despite all those difficult conditions.they are very happy," he said.

Asked for his observation about the success of business despite the unrest, the envoy in a lighter vein said the businessmen did not divulge their "business secret" but added,"Perhaps people here worked really hard despite all the trouble,as if nothing happened".

The envoy, however, said the Japanese investors were anxious about the situation while Tokyo now expected the government engage efforts to solve the political problems and all parties to join hands to workout a solution to give a chance to people and voters to make a choice.

"At this position, as before, we're going to urge the political leadership of the country to exercise their leadership so that in the course of time the aspiration of people is seen fulfilled," said the diplomat.

The DCAB talks with the Japanese ambassador came as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's is set for an official visit to Tokyo next week expecting to take bilateral relations to "a new phase".

Sadoshima said wide range of issues including political and security, economic cooperation, and strengthening of human exchanges would be discussed during the visit when the Bangladesh premier would hold talks with her counterpart Shinzo Abe.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)