Bangladesh Withdraws UNSC Candidacy To Support Japan

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced this in a joint press announcement after the official talks between the two countries at the Prime Minister's Office here this afternoon.

"We recall with deep gratitude the support and empathy of the friendly people and the government of Japan during our War of Liberation," she said.

"Also in view of Japan's continued and strong support in Bangladesh's development process, and in the interest of solidarity and unity of the Asia-Pacific Group at the UN, it is my pleasure to declare that Bangladesh would support Japan's candidature from the Asia Pacific Group for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2016-17," Sheikh Hasina added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the Bangladesh side at the talks, while Japanese side was headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Welcoming Bangladesh's decision, the Japanese Prime Minister said: "I am deeply grateful to Sheikh Hasina for the decision to withdraw candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and extending support to Japan for the post."

Abe said he and Japan highly appreciate the decision, and the decision is instrumental in further strengthening the bilateral relations that just about entered into a new dimension.

"It would also enhance bilateral cooperation in the international arena," he said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that in the years 1979-1980 and 1999-2000, twice in the history of our nation since independence, Bangladesh served on the UN Security Council successfully winning elections in New York with overwhelming support from our friends.

"Few years back we had launched a fresh candidature to the Security Council from the Asia-Pacific Group for the term 2016-2017. In 2011 our long-tested friend Japan also launched their candidature for the same term from the Asia Pacific Group," she said.

The Prime Minister said since then Bangladesh and Japan governments have been closely consulting with a view to upholding our mutual cooperation and Group solidarity in multilateral foray.

A short while ago, Sheikh Hasina said, they had frank, warm and fruitful discussion. "I sincerely appreciate Prime Minister Abe for bringing along distinguished leaders from the Japanese Industry and business sector," she said.

The Prime Minister hoped that the distinguished entrepreneurs had an initial exposure to the prevailing business environment in Bangladesh.

She said Bangladesh and Japan enjoy excellent friendly relations. "Over the years, Japan has emerged as the largest development partner of Bangladesh by providing over US $ 12 billion financial support since our independence and a commitment of an additional amount of around $6 billion of official development assistance for next 4-5 years from this year," she said.

"However, we understand the Japanese commitment would not be limited to the amount. In Tokyo, on 26 May this year, I myself and Prime Minister Abe launched Bangladesh-Japan "Comprehensive Partnership" in order to further broaden and deepen our cooperation in all areas of our bilateral relations," she said.

The Prime Minister said Japan has also launched a programme for Bangladesh under the "Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B)" to help us achieve economic developments through improvement of investment climate and infrastructure.

"I have also expressed our readiness to contribute to the Japanese construction works as well as health and nursing sectors," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Japan have an excellent understanding and long history of cooperation in the field of international affairs including at the UN.

In particular, she said, Japan has always been supportive of our role in UN Peace keeping and Peace Building. "During my recent visit, Japan has further offered technical assistance in setting up a 'Peace Building Center' in Dhaka for which preliminary works have already commenced," she said.

"We deeply appreciate Japan's offer for this cooperation as well as Japan's commitment and contribution to establishing and maintaining global peace and stability," she added.

In his statement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his commitment to providing $6 billion as official development assistance in next 4-5 years while mentioned about $ 1.20 billion as yen loan which have already been provided.

The Japanese Prime Minister also mentioned the two premiers have agreed to develop "Japan-Bangladesh Comprehensive Partnership" in order to further broaden and deepen the cooperation in all areas of bilateral relations.

He said Japan also launched a program for Bangladesh under the "Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) to help achieve economic developments of both countries saying he is convinced that it will help bring prosperity of the two countries.

Shinzo Abe said he and Sheikh Hasina shared views on holding a Foreign Secretary-level Dialogue between the two countries early next year for more cooperation in the field of peace building, and holding an expert-level meeting within this year for the peaceful use of nuclear power.

He also said in 2014 the visit of the two Prime Ministers to each other's country is a special event in the history of bilateral relations.

Earlier, Bangladesh Prime Minister handed over an album containing pictures of two Royal Bengal Tigers to Shinzo Abe. During her recent visit to Japan, she made her commitment to send two Royal Bengal Tigers to Japan as a gesture of friendship.

The Japanese Premier handed over a box containing both Bangladeshi and Japanese coins to Sheikh Hasina. For the first time, Japanese mint (takshal) made Bangladeshi coins having portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Dipu, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury, and Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque were present at the joint press announcement among others.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)