Bangla Press Desk: Prime Minister Tareq Rahman is set to visit Japan on October 26 for a four-day trip. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir stated that the visit will prioritize strengthening bilateral relations and economic partnerships, as well as boosting investment between the two nations.
He made these remarks to journalists on Saturday (October 10) after attending a seminar titled "From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: A New Configuration of Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Relations" at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Humayun Kabir said that, in line with its ongoing engagements with other nations, Bangladesh will prioritize trade, investment, and development partnerships across various sectors during the visit to Japan.
He noted that Bangladesh is currently seeking mutual investment partnerships with countries around the world in specific areas of cooperation.
Describing Japan as one of Bangladesh's major and long-standing development partners, Humayun Kabir mentioned that Japanese investment in several mega-projects has played a pivotal role in fostering strong diplomatic and investment ties between the two countries.
He recalled that last April, at the special invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Prime Minister Tareq Rahman participated in an online conference—organized by Japan to address energy crises and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region—where he emphasized the need for regional countries to work together.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that this engagement helped build the Japanese government's confidence in the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.
He added that the upcoming visit would include detailed discussions on sector-specific cooperation and opportunities for mutual investment.
Regarding the Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia, Humayun Kabir said that the Saudi Crown Prince had invited Prime Minister Tareq Rahman to visit the country, and the Prime Minister has accepted the invitation. He is expected to undertake the visit at a convenient time in the near future. Noting that the Saudi Crown Prince has also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh, Kabir said that Dhaka would accord him a warm welcome at a mutually convenient time.
Responding to a question concerning the protection of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, Humayun Kabir stated that Bangladesh's position on this matter is clear and uncompromising. As one of the world's largest Muslim nations, Bangladesh stands ready to provide necessary assistance should any cooperation or support be sought for initiatives aimed at protecting the holy sites and mosques of the Muslim world. It is worth noting that the seminar was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Center for Migration Studies at North South University (NSU).
Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, spoke at the seminar as special guests.
Additionally, Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman, Director General of BIISS, and Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of NSU, addressed the seminar.
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