Good friend comes out in hard time, this is Japan: CA

Terming Japan a friend of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said a good friend comes out in hard time and this friend is the Japan.

The Chief Adviser made the comment while addressing the ‘Bangladesh Business Seminar in Tokyo’ hosted by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and JICA at JETRO headquarters on Friday.

“I came here to thank you and design the next steps”, he said.

“We are in big trouble. Literally Bangladesh has gone through a 16- year earthquake. Everything fell apart...we are trying to pick up pieces,” Prof Yunus said. 

“Our task is to make impossible possible and you are our partner and our friend. Make that happen,” he added. 

Expressing his gratitude to Japan for its support in developing Matarbari, Prof Yunus said it laid the foundation of the economy of a country that is lagging behind.

“It is not about making money... it is about changing people, their lives,” he said.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is the door way of many more millions of people as people of Nepal, Bhutan and seven sisters of India can get access to sea through Bangladesh. 

“Matarbari is the doorway of the rest of the world....we will keep the door open for them,” he added. 

TAKEUCHI Shinji, Japan Parliamentary Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, said Bangladesh is a strategic point connecting Asia and it has been playing an important role in developing the region.

Shinji said the Japanese government is trying to enhance strategic partnership with Bangladesh under the leadership of Prof Yunus. 

He also said Japanese government is encouraging its companies to invest in South Asia including Bangladesh. 
  
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDG affairs Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Bangladesh Ambassador to Tokyo Md Daud Ali were also present, among others.

Inputs taken from BSS