Bangladesh-Japan Agree On Speedy Implementation Of Projects

The two countries reached the consensus when a delegation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by its President Dr Akihiko Tanaka paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Sangsad Bhaban office this evening.

After the call on, Prime Minister's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister and the JICA Chief also agreed that two teams from Bangladesh and Japan will sit together and look after speedy implementation of the projects for rapid uplift of Bangladesh.

Mentioning Japan as a time-tested friend of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister urged the Japanese government to invest in renewable energy sector to meet the growing demand of electricity in Bangladesh.

In response, the JICA Chief assured the Prime Minister of making investment in renewable energy sector.

Expressing her gratitude to the Japanese government for its assistance in Bangladesh's infrastructure development, Sheikh Hasina said Japan is a big development partner of Bangladesh.

In this regard, she recalled the visit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan after independence and said an MoU was signed with Tokyo during the visit on construction of the Bangabandhu Bridge.

PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and ERD Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin were present, among others, at the meeting.

During the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan, Tokyo expressed its commitment to providing up to 5.9 billion US dollar assistance to Bangladesh from this year for the next four to five years by taking fully into account the proper and smooth implementation of the projects.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the announcement to provide this financial assistance including the 35th ODA loan package of 1.20 billion US dollars to Bangladesh.