Bangladesh and Japan will hold their sixth Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Tokyo on Thursday, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen their strategic partnership ahead of Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus’s upcoming official visit to Japan.
Dr Md Nazrul Islam, secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will lead the Bangladesh delegation, while Japan will be represented by Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Akihiro Tsukii.
The FOC is scheduled ahead of Chief Adviser Dr Yunus’s visit to Japan from May 28.
The consultations are expected to cover a broad range of bilateral and regional issues, including economic and defense cooperation, Japanese investment in Bangladesh, the Indo-Pacific strategy, the Rohingya crisis, developments in Myanmar, and regional security.
Ahead of the meeting, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi held separate discussions with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Secretary (East) Dr Nazrul Islam at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.
Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Ambassador Saida said both sides would prioritize economic relations and explore future investment opportunities.
In response to a question, he reiterated Japan’s interest in supporting the development of Dhaka’s second and third metro rail lines, highlighting Tokyo’s long-standing commitment to Bangladesh’s infrastructure development.
Commenting on the proposed humanitarian corridor for Rohingya refugees, Ambassador Saida noted that such an initiative would be a positive step, provided it is both sustainable and effective.
Foreign Ministry officials also indicated that people-to-people connectivity, regional peace, and future strategic cooperation will be among the key topics during the dialogue.
The previous (fifth) round of the Bangladesh–Japan FOC was held in Dhaka in June 2024.
