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This push for progress and the assistance we are receiving in support of it cannot be understated

Japan has been the largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh since 1972, soon after our independence, and it is good to see how this relationship has been nurtured over the decades. It is also particularly wonderful to see further cooperation between the two nations being encouraged and actively worked towards.

The island nation has extended its assistance to several of our sectors, beginning from infrastructure to education, and even in managing the Covid-19 pandemic. And now, according to a statement by Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, what is on the horizon for Bangladesh next is graduating from a least developed nation to a developing one. For this, greater Japanese cooperation will be crucial.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, who also spoke at the event commemorating the National Day of Japan, highlighted the importance of several mega projects which will be essential, and for which Japan will be extending its aid. It is also worth mentioning, as Ambassador Naoki added, this development is not only beneficial for realizing Bangladesh’s potential, but also for achieving greater prosperity internationally, and particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

This push for progress and the assistance we are receiving in support of it cannot be understated. As such, it is also up to us to not undermine our potential by letting corruption or bureaucracy run amok, which has often been the case with projects of this large a scale. It is imperative that we root out these problems, so that Bangladesh can go about achieving its desired progress that much faster.