Japan is developing Bangladesh's first deep-sea port in Matarbari in the 'Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt, says the Japanese envoy here at a meet that stresses realignment of the bay's littorals with Indo-Pacific strategic lineup.
"Bangladesh, located in the Bay of Bengal, is a vital country in geopolitical terms and it needs to utilize its geographical advantage to increase economic opportunities fully," ITO Naoki, Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, told a meet in Dhaka Monday.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar on 'Geopolitics of Indo-Pacific and Reconnecting the Bay of Bengal Littorals' as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.
"In addition, JICA is implementing several large-scale infrastructure projects under the BIG-B. For example, in December this year, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 6 will start its commercial operation, and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, the first economic zone developed by Japan, will also be ready for international investment," Mr Naoki says.
According to the envoy, Japan pursues a 'Free and Open Indo- Pacific (FOIP)' that will ensure a rules-based international order to bring peace, stability, and prosperity for every country in the region.
Bangladesh is the country that recognizes the importance of rules-based maritime order and shares its value with Japan and other like-minded countries, he adds.
The ambassador of Japan highly praises Bangladesh's efforts for sheltering the displaced Rohingyas of Myanmar.
Japan supports the government's relocation policy of refugees to Bhasan Char and committed to providing US $2 million as the first donor to UNHCR and WFP for their operation in Bhasan Char, he pointed out.
Muhammad Faruk Khan, Chairman, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Muhammad Faruk Khan noted that the term 'Indo-Pacific' received much currency when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described it as the "Confluence of the two seas" in 2007.
He expressed his expectation that countries such as Japan can play a more active role in ensuring peace and stability in this region as Japan is a forerunner of the concept of 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific'.
Major-General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, Director- General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address in the seminar chaired by Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Chairman, BIISS.
In his address Major-General Maksud described the importance of Indo-Pacific region as the central determinant of global peace and prosperity in the near future as well as the hub of 21st century's economic opportunities.
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