Tokyo: Bangladesh and Japan are set to engage in their sixth Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Tokyo this Thursday, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and strategic partnerships ahead of the anticipated visit of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Japan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh delegation will be led by Foreign Ministry’s Secretary (East), Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, while Japan will be represented by Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Akihiro Tsukii. This consultation precedes Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s scheduled visit to Japan on May 28.
The discussions are anticipated to encompass a broad spectrum of bilateral and regional topics, such as economic and defense cooperation, Japanese investments in Bangladesh, the Indo-Pacific strategy, the Rohingya crisis, developments in Myanmar, and regional security concerns.
In preparation for the consultations, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi conducted separate meetings with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Secretary (East) Dr. Nazrul Islam at the Foreign Ministry. The ambassador emphasized that economic relations and future investment opportunities would be central to the talks.
Additionally, Japan’s interest in supporting the development of Dhaka’s second and third metro rail lines was reiterated, highlighting Tokyo’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Bangladesh’s infrastructure. Ambassador Saida also remarked on the potential positive impact of a proposed humanitarian corridor for Rohingya refugees, provided it proves sustainable and effective.
Foreign Ministry officials highlighted that discussions would also focus on people-to-people connectivity, regional peace, and future strategic cooperation. The previous round of the Bangladesh-Japan FOC was held in Dhaka in June 2024.