Dhaka-Tokyo have scope to take ties to strategic partnership

Bangladesh, Japan flags

Jehangir Hussain Foreign Minister Abdul Momen said on Saturday that Bangladesh and Japan have the scope to elevate their bilateral ties to 'Strategic Partnership'.

He said that the ties were elevated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Japanese Prime Minister the late Shinzo Abe to a 'Comprehensive Partnership' in 2014.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori and Bangladeshi Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed addressed as special guests.

Momen was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the second International Hybrid Conference on "Japanology in New Era", hosted by the Department of Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Japan in April, he said.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman chaired the inaugural session of the two day conference.

"Since 1974, Japan has been one of the largest development partners of Bangladesh.

Academicians and experts from fourteen countries including Bangladesh, Japan, the USA, Thailand, China, India and Myanmar are participating.

Managing Director of the Japan Foundation Hideki Hara, Dean of the DU Social Sciences Faculty Prof Zia Rahman and Professor of Kobe University, Japan Dr Keiichi Ogawa spoke as guests of honour.

The founding Chairman of DU Japanese Studies Department Prof Abul Barkat and current Chairman Abdullah-Al-Mamun spoke, among others.

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