B Mirror Report
In order to create a new Bangladesh, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has asked Japan for its complete support. He stated, “I have come here to thank you and to decide on the future steps,” during a seminar held on Friday, May 30, at the JETRO headquarters in Tokyo.
The “Bangladesh Business Seminar” was organized in collaboration with JICA and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). “We are in serious danger,” Professor Yunus stated. In 16 years, Bangladesh has actually experienced an earthquake. Everything has fallen apart. We are currently attempting to piece it together. As Professor Yunus put it, “A good friend stands by in difficult times and Japan is such friend.” Japan is a friend of Bangladesh.
The Chief Advisor stated, “Our mission is to turn the impossible into reality, and you are both our partner and friend. Let’s make it happen.” Professor Yunus referenced a historical challenge in creating a new Bangladesh, saying, “We aim to demonstrate to history that it is indeed possible, and to do so flawlessly.”
Professor Yunus further remarked, “Let us establish the groundwork for another Bangladesh, which we refer to as New Bangladesh. Therefore, our task is to collaboratively build this new Bangladesh. With your support, it is achievable, and we have already begun laying its foundation.”
Expressing gratitude to Japan for its assistance in developing Matarbari, the Prime Minister noted that it has set the groundwork for the economy of a previously underdeveloped nation. Professor Yunus emphasized, “This endeavor transcends mere profit; it is about transforming lives.”
The Chief Advisor mentioned, “Bangladesh serves as a gateway for millions more, including those from Nepal, Bhutan, and the seven northeastern states of India.”
Professor Yunus added, “Matarbari is a portal to the rest of the world. We will ensure this door remains open for them.” Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister for Economic Affairs, Trade and Industry, Takeuchi Shinji, remarked that Bangladesh is a strategic hub connecting Asia and plays a crucial role in regional development. He noted that Japan has been aiding the country’s progress since diplomatic relations were established between Bangladesh and Japan.
Takeuchi Shinji also expressed that the Japanese government envisions Bangladesh as a strategic ally under Professor Yunus’s leadership. He further stated that the Japanese government is encouraging its companies to invest in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh.
Dr. Yunus said, Japanese companies can use the investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation in various fields and help in sustainable development.
Noting that Japan’s bilateral trade with Bangladesh is mainly based on the textile industry, the Chief Advisor called for diversifying investment in a wider range of sectors.
Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain, Special Envoy of the Principal Advisor Lutfe Siddiqui, Principal Advisor’s Principal Coordinator for SDGs Lamia Morshed, Press Secretary of the Principal Advisor Shafiqul Alam and Bangladesh Ambassador to Tokyo Md. Daud Ali were present.
