Japan
Japan, UNFPA join hands to provide $3.7 million assistance to Rihingyas in Bhasan Char, host communities in Noakhali
The government of Japan and UNFPA have on Tuesday signed an exchange of notes for the assistance to Rohingyas in Bhasan Char and host communities in Noakhali district.
The contribution of USD 3.7 million will be used for improving access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, protecting the dignity and safety of women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV) and empowering adolescents and youth.
“With the generous support of the government of Japan, UNFPA is able to work with the Government of Bangladesh to scale up lifesaving SRH, and GBV services and strengthen linkages between key health facilities in Noakhali district. UNFPA wishes to thank the Government of Japan for the confidence expressed and most notably their encouraging engagement to improve health and protection outcomes for women and girls and across Noakhali district and Bhasan Char,” said Kristine Blokhus, UNFPA Representative.
Read more: UN adopts resolution on human rights of Rohingya, other minorities in Myanmar
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki said Japan can provide additional assistance to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, and to the host communities through UNFPA.
"While many women and girls are suffering from reproductive health problems and GBV due to the protracted Rohingya crisis, assistance to those areas has been relatively scarce," he said.
The Ambassador hoped that this assistance will contribute to the protection of women and girls, their dignity, and improvement of their quality of life.
As the Rohingya crisis has turned into the sixth year, it is imperative to continue funding for better and dignified lives of refugees, while making every effort for the early repatriation to Myanmar, Naoki said.
"Durable solutions of this crisis will be conducive to realizing the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Japan will stand by the Government and the people of Bangladesh in supporting the Rohingya response,” said Naoki.
Read more: Relations with Bangladesh now deeper, more extensive: JICA
Since the beginning of the emergency in August 2017, Japan has been a steadfast supporter of the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD $175 million to UNFPA and other UN agencies and NGOs in Bangladesh, including through this new funding.
Japanese ambassador’s comment on election ‘absolutely true’: BNP
BNP on Thursday said the recent statement of Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki about “ballot box stuffing at night” during Bangladesh’s last general election was “absolutely true”.
“What the Japanese ambassador said (about the election) was absolutely true,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said the government is now talking about the Vienna Convention that bars envoys from commenting on any country’s domestic affairs.
Read more: Japanese ambassador’s remark on police’s role in national polls “uncalled for”: Cops’ associations
“Where does it (Vienna Convention) stand when you (government) kill people, make them disappear, hold the day’s voting at night and declare yourself the government without voting?” — Fakhrul asked.
Earlier on Monday, the Japanese Ambassador said he had heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and that “some policemen stuffed the ballot boxes the previous night” — something he did not hear of in any other country.
Stating that “ballot box stuffing” should never be repeated, the envoy said Japan expects that the next national election in Bangladesh will be held in a “free and fair” manner with participation of all major political parties.
Read more: Japan hopeful of better election in Bangladesh; sees positive step
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the international community has opened its eyes to see what is happening in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is not an isolated island… In this day and age, no one can do anything whimsically without facing any question,” he said.
The BNP leader also said Bangladesh is not a “closed” country like Myanmar or North Korea that no one can raise questions about the government’s actions.
Read more: Find way for fair election, Fakhrul urges govt
“It (Bangladesh) is pretty much an open country. Those who are our (development) partners and those who invest here and provide the country with financial assistance can speak about it (polls),” he said.
About the government’s allegation that BNP is persuading the international community to raise various issues concerning Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it means “BNP has come a long way together with the country’s people that the international community is being forced to pay attention to it.”
Japanese ambassador’s remark on police’s role in national polls “uncalled for”: Cops’ associations
Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) and Bangladesh Police Association (BPA) in separate statements on Thursday protested Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki’s comment on police’s role in the national elections.
The two associations also demanded withdrawal of the ambassador’s comment, terming it “baseless and uncalled for”.
President of BPSA, Additional IGP and Chief of Special Branch Md Monirul Islam, and its general secretary Dhaka district SP Md Asaduzzaman; President of BPA, OC of Gulshan Police Station BM Farman Ali, and its general secretary, OC of Jatrabari Police Station, Mazharul Islam signed, their respective statemenrs.
Both the statements say that the attention of BPSA and BPA has been drawn to the “baseless and unwanted” accusations raised by Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki against the police during a question and answer session regarding the 11th National Election during a "Meet the Ambassador" event in the capital on November 14.
Read more: Myanmar situation doesn't allow full-scale Rohingya repatriation now: Japan
The statements say that every member of Bangladesh Police was deeply embarrassed and shocked by his comments. Both BPSA and BPA strongly protested his statement.
In response to a question, the Japanese Ambassador had said, “I heard that (in the last election), police officers filled the ballot boxes the night before… I have not heard of such instances in any other country.”
The statements say that Bangladesh Police maintains law and order during the elections and provides security to the polling stations as per the instructions of the Election Commission. The police have no role or activity in the candidate selection process of the voters or in the voting inside the polling stations, it adds.
Read more: Japan wants "strategic" partnership with Bangladesh through practical cooperation
Both BPSA and BPA separately requested to withdraw the said part of his speech. Both associations also expected a more responsible role from the Japanese ambassador while commenting on national issues.
Dhaka, Tokyo relations to be strengthened through PM-level talks: Shahriar Alam
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday expressed his optimism that Bangladesh-Japan relations would further be strengthened through the upcoming prime ministers-level meeting in Tokyo.
“We keep working with this expectation,” he said in a Facebook post, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to Japan will hopefully benefit the common people of the two countries.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to pay the official visit to Japan from November 29 to December 1 at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
Read more: Myanmar situation doesn't allow full-scale Rohingya repatriation now: Japan
The State Minister said Bangladesh conveyed necessary messages to Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki which did not need to be shared with the media.
In a separate note on Facebook, he wrote, “If some of you have forgotten: Article 41 paragraph 1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 reminds diplomats to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state and unequivocally restricts them from meddling in that nation's domestic affairs.”
Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State, according to Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Read more: Japan wants "strategic" partnership with Bangladesh through practical cooperation
They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State and all official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.
On Monday, Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki said he heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and some police officers stuffed the ballot box the previous night which is something he had never heard of in any other country.
Read more: FM Momen urges Japan to stand by Bangladesh in its development journey
The government said the Japanese side did not raise such an issue in the last four years in any bilateral meeting or any discussion.
Even it was not mentioned in the statement issued by the Japanese Embassy after the 2018 elections which was focused on violence.
Japan wants "strategic" partnership with Bangladesh through practical cooperation
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Monday said his country wants to elevate the bilateral ties with Bangladesh to a "strategic" level adding more elements like defence and security areas to the growing relations.
"We have comprehensive partnership. We intend to elevate it. Hopefully we can agree to call our partnership a strategic partnership," he said referring to likely discussion on the issue during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Japan.
Ambassador Naoki expressed his country’s interest to export defence related equipment to Bangladesh which will further be discussed between the two sides.
Read more: Mecca Route Initiative agreement to make Bangladeshi pilgrims' journey easier: Shahriar
Sharing Japan's vision for Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), the envoy said this is something very comprehensive but not against any country or contain any country.
He said Japan considers Bangladesh as a partner of FOIP. "We will continue to promote our practical cooperation."
Ambassador Naoki said infrastructure development, connectivity, maritime security and capacity building of security forces are part of the practical cooperation that they promote.
Regarding investment, the envoy said there are challenges but hopefully there will be improvements in terms of investment environment.
Read more: Russian FM Lavrov’s Visit: Dhaka to focus on energy cooperation, Rohingya issue
The Ambassador was speaking at an event titled “Meet the Ambassador” held in a Dhaka hotel.
Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted it in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh.
Zillur Rahman, Executive Director of the Centre for Governance Studies moderated the programme.
Bangladesh will seek Japan’s “stronger engagement” in its development efforts through “investment and financing” in major projects during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s forthcoming visit to Japan slated for November 29-December 1, 2022 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told UNB that Japan is a "good investor" for Bangladesh, and they are implementing major projects.
Read more: Bangladesh can benefit immensely from economic partnerships with Africa
“The basic idea is Japan is capable of financing and they always finance without any tough conditions. They have technology, too,” Momen said.
In May, 2014, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with Sheikh Hasina in Tokyo and they jointly launched the “Bangladesh-Japan Comprehensive Partnership.”
In September same year, Abe held a summit meeting with Hasina in Dhaka.
Japan recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign nation on February 10, 1972, and the year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Japan.
2022 Autumn Conferment of Decorations: 6 Bangladeshis honoured
The government of Japan has announced the foreign recipients of the 2022 Fall Imperial Decorations and six Bangladesh nationals have been honored.
Prof. Dr. Abul Barkat, former Chairman of the Department of Economics, Dhaka University and the founder chairman and professor of Department of Japanese Studies, Dhaka University, will receive “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon”.
Read more:'Dhaka Classics Japanese Recital' enthrals audience at Japanese mission
The conferral recognizes his significant contribution to laying the foundation of Japanese studies in academic sphere in Bangladesh, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.
He contributed to establishing department of Japanese studies in Dhaka University and providing students with opportunities to acquire the bachelor's degree of Japanese studies.
Read more:Study in Japan: Scholarships, Tuitions, Application Process for Bangladeshi Students
In recognition of contributions to the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, Khan Jahangir Alam, a former local staff member of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, will receive “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays” and Samar Cruze, Abdul Gafur, Sujit Kumar Barua, and Parimal Barua, former local staff members of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, will receive “the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver."
How AI is helping Japan convenience stores, supermarkets profit from reduced waste
It is 3pm. In-store computers at a convenience store chain in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward decide which food items should be discounted and by how much. Assorted sandwiches, one, 20 yen ($0.13) off, and crispy ham and lettuce sandwiches, three, 30 yen off, a display says.
Then a manager prints out price tags and goes about attaching them to items. Eight assorted sandwiches line the shelf, but only one, approaching its expiration date, is discounted.
More Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse data such as past sales figures to decide what discounts to apply to perishable products to boost sales and cut food waste, reports Kyodo News Plus.
Lawson Inc, one of Japan's largest convenience store chains, introduced a system in 2015 where AI at its head office advises store managers and experienced staff on product management at all stores.
To calculate how far to lower prices, the software considers a store's sales, delivery times and the local weather conditions to propose a price that gives the product the best chance at being sold.
Study in Japan: Scholarships, Tuitions, Application Process for Bangladeshi Students
East Asian island country Japan is located in the Pacific Ocean. The “land of the rising sun” is famous for its standard educational system and unique culture. Every year a large number of international students come to study in Japan. Many talented students from Bangladesh dream of going to Japan for higher education too. This article will provide detailed information on how to get higher education in Japan.
Is Japan a Good Destination for Higher Studies?
Students from middle-class families prefer higher education in Japan due to the low tuition and vast opportunity to access the latest technology and knowledge.
The advanced sciences and economic prosperities of the country are incomparable. As one of the most powerful countries in Asia, Japan’s educational system is unique compared to other countries.
Here, students can study a variety of subjects ranging from electrical to medicine, literature, business administration, and more.
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Japan is one of the safest nations in the world. Japan has a very low crime rate and an extremely low drug use rate.
Higher Study in Japan, Academic Year and Course Duration
All the first-world countries offer opportunities in various educational institutions for higher education. Likewise, there are five types of higher education institutions in Japan. These are Graduate University, Under Graduate University, College of Technology, Japanese Studies, and Professional Training School. Japan’s education system is running on them.
The academic year for higher education in Japan begins in April and ends the following March. Generally, an academic year is divided into two semesters, one April-September and the other October-March. But there are more opportunities for international students in the fall semester, which starts on October 1 and ends on March 31.
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Most courses at the undergraduate level are of four years duration. Besides, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science’s duration are six years. However, the duration for Master’s courses is two years, and the course duration for a doctoral degree or PHD is five years. Japan also offers 2-3 years of professional degrees in Master of Education, Juris Doctor, and professional Master’s degree.
Minimum Educational Qualifications to Study Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD
For undergraduate admission in Japan, a student must have completed at least 12 years of schooling, i.e., an upper secondary certificate from an upper secondary school.
For admission to the Master, there should be at least 16 years of schooling.
For Ph.D. admission, you will need a Master’s degree with relevant research and job experience.
Read Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies
However, most higher education institutions in Japan teach in Japanese, while you can find some courses taught in English too.
Therefore, if foreign students want to go for higher education in Japan, a student must have to be proficient in the Japanese language. So Bangladeshi students who want to go for higher education in Japan can contact the embassy in Dhaka and learn the Japanese language. Besides, Dhaka University has Japanese language courses of different durations.
In addition to that, you will also need English language proficiency. When you go for higher education in Japan, you need to find out which institutions require IELTS. Because some educational institutions want TOEFL CBT to score above 150 or TOEFL iBT scores above 52. And IELTS 6.5/ 7.0 is acceptable to supplement this score.
Since the university authorities want TOEFL (CBT/ iBT) directly, it is better for you to take the TOEFL (CBT/ iBT) test in Japan. However, these tests are not required in all courses and universities. So you need to visit the university websites and see what qualifications the university authorities actually expect from students.
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Subjects Taught for Higher Education in Japan
Here are some of the subjects you can study in Japan:
Science Subjects:
Physics, Chemistry, Ecology, Biology, Material Science, Biology and Neuroscience, Geoscience, Educational Science, Environmental Life Science, Astronomy, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Biomolecular Engineering, Medical Science, MBBS, and more.
Management:
Accountancy, Management, Area Studies, and more.
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Humanities:
Human Studies, Anthropology, Public Law and Policy, Applied Informatics, Human-Social Information Science, Geophysics, Architecture, and Building Science.
Law Subjects:
Law and Society, Transnational Law and Policy, and more.
In addition, there are linguistics, history, economics, mathematics, mechanical systems and design, nanomechanics, educational informatics, intercultural relations, and engineering, including computer and mathematical science.
There are about 800 universities for higher education in Japan. “The University of Tokyo” and “Kyoto University” are among the top 70 universities in the world ranking.
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Tuition Fees in Japan
Tuition fees in Japan depend on which university you study at. If you study at National Universities, tuition fees will be Approx. 820,000 yen or around $5,500 per year (around TK 6 lacs) for an undergraduate degree. If you attend a private university in Japan, the annual tuition fee will be Approximately 1,100,000 yen or around $7,300 (or around TK 8 lacs).
For medical, dental, and pharmaceutical studies in private universities, the approximate tuition fee is Approximately 3,200,000 yen or $21,500 (or around TK 23 lacs) per year.
The approximate tuition fee for graduate studies such as a Master’s or Ph.D. is 820,000 yen or $5,500 (around TK 6 lacs) each year. For private graduate school, you will need to pay around 1,000,000 yen or $6,700 (around TK 7 lacs) a year. Graduate medical, dental, and pharmaceutical programs will cost around 800,000 yen or $5,500 (around TK 6 lacs) per year.
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Accommodation Facilities and Costs
Foreign students studying in Japan can live in four types of accommodation. These four types of accommodation are student dormitories, public housing allocated by local government agencies, staff dormitories of various Japanese organizations, and private rental housing.
The average accommodation cost for a student in Tokyo is about 44,000 yen or $300 (around TK 31,000) per month. Overall, the living cost per month will be around 100,000 yen (around TK 71,000), including rent, food, utility, insurance, medical, and others.
Scholarship Scopes for International Students in Japan
The Japanese study environment is competitive and creative. Japanese universities offer admission for two semesters a year with various scholarships and fellowships. Master’s and Ph.D. students have more opportunities for scholarships.
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Among the popular scholarships, the MEXT scholarship is notable. This scholarship is given to developing Japan’s friendships with other countries through research. Scholarship recipients under this program do not have to pay any tuition fee or admission fees. Accommodation, food, and round-trip airfare are also included in the scholarship.
Apart from this, students get the opportunity to study without tuition fees in Japan’s ‘ADB-Japan Scholarship Program.’ Living expenses, incidental expenses including rent, purchase of books and other essentials, medical insurance, and travel expenses—all are covered by this scholarship.
Another popular scholarship is the Japan-World Bank Scholarship. Through this, there are various training opportunities, including Master's and Ph.D. degrees. Students from various universities get various scholarships and financial incentives for good results and work. These scholarships and fellowship opportunities can be known by e-mailing the university’s international office.
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To get a scholarship, one should have good academic results and be interested in research and higher education. Apart from the various required documents for the scholarship, a ‘Statement of Purpose, why you are interested in doing research should be written. Apart from this, previous research experience and certificates of participation in various social activities are also considered important.
Application Process for Higher Education in Japan
First of all, you will need to find universities according to your background and interest. You can search the universities at https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/.
Next, you will need to apply. The required documents for application are academic certificates, an academic mark sheet or transcript, a TOEFL or IELTS score, a CV or motivation letter and recommendation letter, a certificate from the last educational institution, and a copy of the passport.
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However, make sure you follow the academic year and application deadlines. Each university might have a different application process. Information regarding the application process and minimum qualifications are available from the university website.
In order to start the classes on time, the application process should be started at least 2-3 months before the start of the course. Bangladeshi students should apply for a study permit by contacting the relevant branch of the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.
Visa Application Process and Required Documents
After you have received confirmation of admission from the university, you must submit all required documents to the Japan Immigration Office. They will accept all your documents and issue Pre-Visa (COE) through the Ministry of Justice in Japan. With this Pre-Visa (COE), you will later apply for a visa at the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh.
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Documents you will need at the embassy are, Pre-Visa (COE), all documents, mark sheets, and all certificates; the passport should be valid for at least six months; two copies of photo size 3.5 x 4.5, recommendation or reference letter, bank statements and financial solvency documents, medical report, TOEFL/ JLPT 5 (if applicable), scholarship papers (if any) and a cover letter describing the reason for higher education in Japan.
Besides, you need to know from the Japanese embassy whether you need any other documents.
Part-time Job Opportunities for Students in Japan
International students typically can work 28 hours a week. Knowing Japanese makes it easier to work in different organizations. There are job opportunities in various research laboratories and related projects of the university.
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The work environment in Japan is very professional. Punctuality and professional behavior are always important. In addition, you will get the opportunity to work full-time during the semester breaks.
Job Opportunities in Japan After Completion of Study
Bangladeshi students or researchers have many job opportunities in Japan. Chances are more if you know Japanese. You can work in various technology companies. Many people also work in financial institutions, laboratories, and commercial institutions. Bangladeshis are joining various Japanese educational institutions and laboratories.
Many students also work in famous companies such as Sony, Toyota, and Hitachi. Many students are taking jobs directly from Japan in various corporate organizations in Europe and America. Hence, you will have permanent resident opportunities too.
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Final Words
Japan is a great destination for science and technology students. The study system is the same in all universities in Japan. But it is better to select public universities and national universities for a scholarship. Because the number of scholarships in these universities is usually high.
So far, we have discussed how Bangladeshi students can apply for bachelor, master's, or Ph.D. admission in Japan. We also gave an idea about tuition fees, living costs, and part-time job opportunities for students in Japan. Hope it helps!
Japan’s ‘Kumon’ method to be launched in 300 Bangladeshi ‘Schools of Future’ next year
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today said they will launch the Japanese education method ‘Kumon’ in 300 ‘Schools of Future’ under the ICT division by next year and all Sheikh Russel Digital Labs by 2025 across the country.
He said this while addressing an award giving ceremony – as chief guest – for winners of ‘Brac Kumon’ competition at Brac CDM in Savar.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present as special guests at the function where Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh, among others, also attended.
Expressing his determination to build a better world for children, Palak inspired the competition’s winners through songs.
Junior Cultural Affairs Minister Khalid said Japanese mathematician Toru Takoshi, father of the Kumon method, designed it to develop his son’s math skills in 1958 as he was weak in the subject.
Read: ICT & Digital Technology to rule in new-look education system
Listing several advantages of the method, he said some four million students of 60 countries across the world have been studying mathematics and English using the Kumon method.
Thanking Brac, the world’s largest non-government organization (NGO), for their efforts to spread the method in the country, he said the NGO has been playing an important role to develop the country’s socio-economic condition.
Ambassador Naoki in his speech said the method will be considered as a model in the days to come in building a skilled manpower in Bangladesh.
Brac officials informed that they have already started the Kumon education method for underprivileged children in Haluaghat area of the port city of Chattogram.
At the function, a total of 330 winners under different categories of four BRAC schools were awarded the prizes.
Momen attends Abe's funeral representing Bangladesh
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday paid tribute to former Prime Minister of Japan late Shinzo Abe while attending his state funeral in Tokyo on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Momen paid tribute to late Shinzo Abe by placing a floral wreath.
Selima Ahmed, MP and Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed were present.
Later in a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Momen expressed deep grief over the death of Shinzo Abe on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh.
Recalling the late Abe's contribution, he said, Shinzo Abe was a true friend of Bangladesh and during his time, the relationship between the two countries developed into a comprehensive partnership.
Read: Shinzo Abe was a true friend of Bangladesh: Momen
Akie Abe, wife of late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was present at the event.
The foreign minister also recalled her (Akie Abe) visit to Bangladesh in 2014 with late Shinzo Abe.
The state funeral was attended by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and other foreign and Japanese dignitaries.