Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has expressed a vision to transform the Maheshkhali-Matarbari area into a developed port hub reminiscent of Singapore, with Japan showing interest in investing in the region. This was announced by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Japan is interested in establishing its second special economic zone in Matarbari. The Chief Adviser intends to leverage this interest during his visit to Japan, where he plans to invite major corporations to invest in the Maheshkhali-Matarbari port. Japan is expected to announce a financial support package amounting to US$ 1 billion for Bangladesh, with allocations including US$ 500 million for budgetary support, US$ 250 million for railway development, and the remaining US$ 250 million for various sectors.
The press briefing also highlighted the significance of the upcoming discussions on deploying trained Bangladeshi manpower to Japan. The Chief Adviser aims to facilitate the migration of 100,000 Bangladeshi workers to Japan, with a focus on providing language training to ensure their readiness. An in-depth dialogue on implementing effective language training programs for Bangladeshi manpower is anticipated during the visit.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were also present at the briefing.