Today, Bangladesh’s shipbreaking sector needs aid from Japan to become viable and safe, and for that reason, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud requested 100 million US dollars.
“I requested Japan to help us with 100 million US dollars for developing the ship breaking sector which is one of the biggest in the world,” he told reporters after holding a meeting with visiting Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Hosaka Yasushi at the foreign ministry here.
Currently, the foreign minister said Bangladesh breaks 8000 scrapped ships annually while neighboring India breaks 10000 per year.
“They (Japan) had helped India to improve their ship breaking industry . . . so in line with that I also sought their help in this regard,” he said.
In order to improve communication within and outside of the region, Hasan also requested during the conference that Japan maintain its long-term support for the development of Southern Chattogram as part of the BIG-B initiative.
Additionally, he stressed the need for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh, especially in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai, Chattogram, and the Special Economic Zones in Araihazar.
The foreign minister expressed gratitude to Japan for sending the trade negotiation team for the first round of the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, which will take place in Dhaka from May 19–23, 2024.
He apprised the Japanese vice minister that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government would like to strengthen the existing strategic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan to further height and engagements.
Hasan expressed satisfaction at the good progress of JICA-assisted mega-infrastructure projects, including Matarbari deep seaport, Matarbari Coal Fired Power Plant, Dhaka Metro Rail.
He thanked Japan for the continued efforts towards a durable solution for the safe, sustainable and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals Rohingyas to the Rakhine State for peace, stability, and security in the region.
The foreign minister expressed hope that an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be concluded to get Japanese financial concessions by 2026 when Bangladesh will be graduated from LDC status.
The Vice Minister and Foreign Minister conveyed their contentment with Bangladesh and Japan’s strong collaboration in various multilateral forums and wished for the continuation of this strong partnership for global peace and security as well as sustainable development.
The foreign minister expressed gratitude to the vice minister for speaking on behalf of the Japanese government at the ICPD30 Global Dialogue in Dhaka.
