Both Dhaka, Tokyo want dignified repatriation of Rohingya

Both Bangladesh and Japan want dignified repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya to their homeland Myanmar.

The Rohingya issue was discussed when Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan, HONDA Taro and President, Japan International Corporation Agency. TANAKA Akihiko (JICA) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed newsmen after the call on.

During the meeting, Bangladesh prime minister sought Japanese support to repatriate Rohingya to their motherland Myanmar.

“Several years have elapsed since the Rohingya took shelter in Bangladesh and they are now becoming a burden for us,” she added.

In reply, HONDA Taro said they also want the Rohingya's repatriation in a dignified manner.

He added: “Japan wants dignified repatriation of Rohingya and they are supporting Bangladesh on the issue.”

Both the leaders of Bangladesh and Japan discussed economic development cooperation between the two countries.

The Japanese leader and the JICA President congratulated the Bangladesh premier for constructing the much-hyped Padma Bridge with own finances, saying the bridge would quicken Bangladesh’s overall development.

Sheikh Hasina said the Padma Bridge and the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna river have connected the southern and northern regions to remaining parts of the country.

The Premier said Japan is implementing Bangladesh’s three mega projects- Matharbari coal fired power plant in Maheshkhali, metro rail and third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka- to specially help accelerate Bangladesh’s development.

In reply, the JICA President appreciated Bangladesh government’s all out support to implement the three mega projects.

The Japanese leader appreciated Bangladesh’s graduation as a developing nation from a least development country under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Both the Bangladeshi and Japanese leaders recalled the visit of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014.

Sheikh Hasina denounced the killing of Shinzo Abe and described him as a great friend of Bangladesh.

The Japanese leader said Shinzo Abe’s visit to Bangladesh elevated the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan to a comprehensive partnership.

The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s October 1973 visit to Japan led to the foundation of today’ Bangladesh-Japan relations.

She said Bangabandhu was a great admirer of the socio-economic and technological advancement of Japan and he wanted to replicate the Japanese model to transform agriculture- based Bangladesh into an industrialized one.

PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present.