Japan as a major development partner will continue support for Bangladesh in its journey towards becoming a developed nation, speakers tell a programme.
The view came at the 'Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebration of JICA in Bangladesh' hosted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh at a city hotel on Thursday.
Senior foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Japanese ambassador Ito Naoki, JICA senior vice-president Keiichiro Nakazawa and JICA Bangladesh chief representative Yuho Hayakawa, among others, spoke.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also gave a recorded video message at the ceremony while newly-appointed finance secretary Fatima Yasmin gave a vote of thanks.
Mr Momen said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's first visit to Japan in 1973 has been one of the most important diplomatic events of Bangladesh's history.
The country has been receiving immense support from JICA over the years in many technical issues, education, health, governance, skill development and infrastructure.
Currently, Japan has been implementing several large projects like a dedicated economic zone for Japanese investors, Matarbari Power Plant, Metro Rail, third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Besides, Mr Miah said, "Since independence, JICA has been supporting Bangladesh in many ways and we are very happy with JICA projects here."
Japan was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh's independence, he said, adding: "Not just infrastructure, JICA has also been supporting Bangladesh in capacity building in different sectors."
Dhaka also got Tokyo on its side in the Rohingya issue which proves the two countries deep ties, he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Naoki said Japan considers Bangladesh as one of its crucial partners in South Asia.
He also hoped for further growth of Bangladesh and enhancement of development cooperation between the two.
"Japan looks forward to working closely with the government and the people of Bangladesh to build a win-win partnership for our prosperous future."
Mr Nakazawa said Bangladesh is now one of the largest partners of JICA out of over 100 countries it is operating in.
Over 13,000 Bangladeshi nationals were trained in Japan covering diverse sectors while nearly 1,300 Japanese volunteers and about 5,000 JICA experts came here to contribute their expertise, he cited.
JICA's total assistance to Bangladesh in the past five decades has exceeded 96-billion yen in technical cooperation, 2.3-trillion yen in ODA loans and 130-billion yen in grant aid, he mentioned.
Before the ceremony, JICA handed a letter to Economic Relations Division confirming the achievements of policy goals by Bangladesh under the 'COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan Phase-2'.
The goals include approvals of the guideline of the government dispensaries, infection prevention control for community clinics, and accreditation of Nursing College.
Confirming those achievements, JICA will disburse remaining 10-billion yen to Dhaka within June 2022.
The 40-billion Japanese yen programme was agreed in November 2021 between JICA and Bangladesh of which 30 billion was disbursed as of December 2021.
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