Japan-Bangladesh bilateral relations emanate from the unwavering Japanese support for the cause of an independent Bangladesh. Japan recognized independent Bangladesh on 10 February 1972 and established diplomatic relations Bangladesh nurture enduring gratitude for all Japanese who stood by in its trying hours. A bond of mutual goodwill and respect has since developed between the two peoples. The Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Japan from 18-24 October 1973. The visit of the Father of the Nation laid down the political foundation for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries. Since then the bilateral relations between the two countries have developed steadily.
Japan has been instrumental in building the economic infrastructure, poverty alleviation efforts and human resources development including achievement in attainment of MDG goals for Bangladesh. Japan developed infrastructures including roads and bridges in Bangladesh which have directly helped its economy to grow. Japan played great role in supporting Bangladesh at the time of natural disasters. The friendly and peace-loving people in Bangladesh can hardly forget the friendly and peace-loving Japanese people and they discover among each other an ally. The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan grew from strength to strength and entered into an era of wider cooperation and understanding in recent years. The official visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan from 29 November- 02 December 2010 presented an ideal opportunity to take the bilateral relations to a new height. The signing of the Joint Statement between the two countries stipulated fundamental basis for the future bilateral engagements, including fresh political commitments from the government of Japan to undertake major development projects in Bangladesh and to expand bilateral trade and investment. The government of Japan, acknowledging measures undertaken by the government of Bangladesh for creating a middle income country enshrined in the ‘Vision 2021’, reaffirmed continued support in wider ranges of fields from social development to energy, power generation, communication infrastructure, investment, trade, textile, garments and IT projects.
One reality is Japan’s interest in South Asia. As a region, South Asia is perhaps not as important to Japan as Southeast Asia, its own region Far East or Europe or USA. Japan continues to retain its interest in Bangladesh as an important development partner. In fact, in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its ODA to Bangladesh is referred to as a model in positive reference to its content and quality. However, there is a need to keep in focus the new realities and set a new direction for Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with Japan for mutual benefit. To retain Japan’s focus, Bangladesh would need to highlight the tremendous benefits to the country from Japan’s quality ODA.
Over the years, Bangladesh and Japan has signed a number of agreements to strengthen and institutionalize cooperation between them. The important documents signed between the two countries are mentioned below:
Sl No. |
Year |
Title of the Agreement |
Name of the Country |
Date of sign/entered into force |
Remarks |
1. |
1973 |
Exchange of Notes concerning the Dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. |
Japan |
1973 |
- |
2. |
1978 |
Agreement for the Exchange of International Money Orders. |
Japan |
1978 |
- |
3. |
1980 |
Agreement for Air Services. |
Japan |
1980 |
- |
4. |
1982 |
Cultural Agreement |
Japan |
10 February 1982 (Ratified on 13 December 1982) |
- |
5. |
1991 |
Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. |
Japan |
1991 |
- |
6. |
1999 |
Agreement concerning the Promotion and Protection of Investment. |
Japan |
1999 |
- |
7. |
2002 |
Agreement on Technical Cooperation. |
Japan |
2002 |
- |
8. |
2003 |
Loan Agreement on Paksey-2 Project. |
Japan |
March 2003 |
- |
9. |
2004 |
Exchange of Notes on 1.46 billion USD Debt Relief Measure |
Japan |
March 2004 |
- |
10. |
2005 |
Loan Agreement of 11,345 m Yen for Eastern BD Rural Infrastructure Dev. Project. |
Japan |
March 2005 |
- |
11. |
2005 |
Record of discussion between Japan Int’l Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. |
Japan |
signed in Tokyo in July 2005 |
- |
12. |
2005 |
Bangladesh-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement. |
Japan |
2005 |
- |
13. |
2005 |
Exchange of Notes, Record of Discussions, Agreed Minutes concerning the Project for improvement of Metrological Radar System at Cox’s Bazar and Khepupara. |
Japan |
2005 |
- |
14. |
2005 |
Record of Discussions on Technical Internship Program |
Japan |
2005 |
- |
15. |
2008 |
Loan agreement for US$ 60 mi towards Emergency Disaster Management Projects. |
Japan |
25 Feb 2008 |
- |
16. |
2008 |
Japanese Grant for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) of ¥294 million. |
Japan |
25 May 2008 |
- |
17. |
2008 |
Exchange of notes on Improvement of Audio-Visual Equipment of Bangladesh National Museum of ¥62,300,000. |
Japan |
August 2008 |
- |
18. |
2008 |
Japan Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF) worth of BDT 46 billion/ US$680 million. |
Japan |
26 August 2008 |
- |
19. |
2008 |
Agreement on Technical cooperation between the GoJ and the GoB. |
Japan |
2008 |
- |
20. |
2009 |
Note of Exchange worth 1.2 billion Japanese Yen on ‘Improvement of Solid Waste Management in Dhaka towards the low carbon society. |
Japan |
18 February 2009 |
- |
21. |
2009 |
Exchange of notes relating to 30thODA loan package worth ¥39,749 million. |
Japan |
22 February 2009 |
- |
22. |
2009 |
03 projects under 30thODA Loan Agreement. |
Japan |
01 March 2009 |
- |
23. |
2010 |
31st Japanese Yen Loan Package |
Japan |
24 March 2010 |
- |
24. |
2011 |
32nd Japanese Yen Loan Package |
Japan |
18 January 2011 |
- |
25. |
2012 |
Exchange of Notes on Improvement of the Capacity of Public Food Storage |
Japan |
2012 |
- |
26. |
2013 |
33rd Japanese Yen Loan Package |
Japan |
20 February 2013 |
- |
27. |
2013 |
34th Japanese Yen Loan Package |
Japan |
10 March 2013 |
- |
28. |
2014 |
Exchange of notes between the two countries were signed regarding the 35th package of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), under which Bangladesh is receiving $1.18 from Japan for a number of major projects. |
Japan |
26 May 2014 |
- |
29. |
2014 |
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and JETRO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish an exclusive industrial park in Bangladesh. |
Japan |
27 May 2014 |
- |
30 |
2016 |
Exchange of Notes Verbal for the visa exemption of Diplomatic Passport Holders |
Japan |
|
|
31 |
2018 |
Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan to widen the scope of training and jobs for Bangladeshi youths in Japan. Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan have jointly signed the MoCin Tokyo. |
Japan |
29 January 2018 |
|
Political Consultation
During Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in May 2014 decision has been taken to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Japan. After that both sides re-committed themselves to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations between two Governments when Japanese Prime Minister visited Bangladesh in September 2014. Following the decision, the first ever FOC took place in Dhaka in February 2015 followed by 2nd FOC in Tokyo in November 2018. In 2021, 3rd Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was held (on 25 February 2021) after a gap of two years, where the gamut of bilateral issues was discussed. Hon’ble State Minister for Youth and Sports led the Bangladesh delegation in the Tokyo Olympic 2020 (22-27 July 2021). On the other hand, 02 (two) dignitaries from Japan attended the ‘Dhaka Peace Conference’ in person on 04-05 December 2021. The Embassy in Tokyo, as one of the 18 select capitals, jointly celebrated Maitri Diwas, the Friendship Day with the Embassy of India on 06 December 2021 with much fanfare. Furthermore, the operation of direct flight between Tokyo and Dhaka reached at final stage following the appointment of GSA in Japan by Biman Bangladesh and is expected to operational in the latter half of 2022.