Staff Reporter, Dhaka :The President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr.  TANAKA Akihiko, concluded a five-day official visit to Bangladesh from 1 to 5 July 2026, reaffirming the enduring Japan–Bangladesh Strategic Partnership and JICA’s continued commitment to the country’s sustainable and inclusive development.

During his visit, Dr. Tanaka attended the tenth memorial ceremony commemorating the seven Japanese nationals who lost their lives in the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in July 2016. The ceremony served as a moment of reflection and reaffirmation of shared values of peace, resilience, and cooperation between the people of Japan and Bangladesh.

Dr. Tanaka held a high-level meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Tarique Rahman, where both sides reiterated the strength of bilateral relations and discussed key areas of ongoing and future cooperation. The discussions highlighted major development initiatives supported by Japan, including the Dhaka Metro Rail, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) expansion, the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI), and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ). Both sides also acknowledged the importance of the JPY 50 billion emergency support under the POWERR Asia initiative, aimed at enhancing regional energy security.

Throughout the visit, Dr. Tanaka engaged with senior government leadership, including Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Mr. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Minister of Finance and Planning; Mr. Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Mr. Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Minister of Roads, Transport, and Bridges, as well as Minister of Shipping and Minister of Railways. These meetings reinforced mutual priorities in infrastructure development, industrial development, and capacity development for sustainable and inclusive growth regional connectivity.

As part of his itinerary, Dr. Tanaka visited several key project sites supported by JICA and the Government of Japan. On 1 July, he visited Terminal 3 of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, a flagship infrastructure project financed through JICA’s concessional loan. Once operational, the new terminal is expected to transform Bangladesh’s main international gateway enhancing the travel experience for millions of passengers and presenting a modern face of Bangladesh to the world, while supporting trade, tourism, and investment.

On 3 July, Dr. Tanaka visited project sites under the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI), including the power plant and the deep seaport. These projects are central to strengthening Bangladesh’s energy security and trade connectivity, and align with Japan’s vision for “The Updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.

During his visit to Cox’s Bazar, on 4^th July, Dr. Tanaka also observed humanitarian operations in the Rohingya camps. He visited facilities including a World Food Programme (WFP) e-voucher outlet, a UNHCR vocational training center, an IOM clinic, and JICA-supported livelihood initiatives. He also met with the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) to exchange views on the current situation and ongoing support efforts. On the same day, he also visited the construction site of the Fish Landing Center in Cox’s Bazar, built with JICA’s grant assistance to improve post-harvest handling and better manage quality. In addition, he visited the Fisheries Livelihood Enhancement Project in the coastal area of the Bay of Bengal, reaffirming JICA’s commitment to supporting sustainable livelihoods through seafood processing technologies, alternative income-generating activities and nutrition awareness promotion.

On 5^th July, Dr. Tanaka and his delegation further engaged with one of the JICA-supported initiatives in Solid Waste Management and a Japanese private sector technological solution J-Drum for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), underscoring the agency’s comprehensive approach to development cooperation in Bangladesh.

Concluding his visit, Dr. Tanaka reaffirmed JICA’s long-term commitment to Bangladesh’s development journey. “Our partnership with Bangladesh is very strong. We would like to continue this course in the years ahead,” he stated.