Japan has called on the new government of Bangladesh to uphold the defense agreement established with the previous interim administration. The Japanese Ambassador, Saida Shinichi, discussed this matter during a meeting with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at the ministry.
The discussions encompassed the defense equipment and technology transfer pact signed on February 3, the potential recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers in Japan, broader bilateral relations, developments in the Indo-Pacific region, and various strategic cooperation initiatives, including the Matarbari development project.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir informed reporters that the government would thoroughly evaluate the agreement before reaching a final decision. He mentioned, “We will assess it and make a decision accordingly. If it serves our interests, it may be upheld. Otherwise, it will be reassessed. We need to evaluate the legacy left by the interim government before finalizing our stance.”
Ambassador Saida expressed Japan’s hope that the agreement’s implementation would progress smoothly and reiterated Tokyo’s interest in facilitating the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers. The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahadi Amin, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan.