Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday sought Japan’s support for greater investment and trade, skilled human resource development and the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar during a meeting with a delegation of Japanese lawmakers led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso.

The delegation of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) met Tarique Rahman at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 3:00pm local time, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Taro Aso for his continued contributions to strengthening friendly ties between Bangladesh and Japan through his leadership of the parliamentary friendship league.

He also recalled meeting Taro Aso in 2006 when he visited Japan as BNP’s senior joint secretary general.

Tarique Rahman said he had played a consistently positive and constructive role in developing bilateral relations during his tenures as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister.

His long-standing personal engagement with Bangladesh had also helped deepen the friendship between the two countries, he added.

At the meeting, both sides emphasised the need to strengthen political, economic and people-to-people ties.

Following the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan, Tarique Rahman sought Taro Aso’s support for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh, expanded bilateral trade and greater technology transfer.

He also expressed hope for Japan’s continued assistance in implementing Bangladesh’s development priorities and developing skilled human resources.

The Rohingya crisis also came up for discussion, with Tarique Rahman seeking Japan’s continued support for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

He invited Taro Aso and members of the parliamentary friendship league to visit Bangladesh, expressing hope that such a visit will further deepen parliamentary friendship, mutual cooperation and bilateral relations.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon were present.

Senior Japanese lawmakers and Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi also attended the meeting.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo at 9:15am local time on a four-day official visit, leading a 16-member high-level delegation.