Bangladesh hopes to start negotiations for the 35th yen loan package with Japan next month.
“We have agreed in principle to get the loan and primary fact-finding has already been completed,” Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Mohammad Shafiqul Azam told the Dhaka Tribune.
Japan is Bangladesh’s biggest bilateral development partner and has so far provided about $11bn flexible loans since country’s independence in 1971.
“Bangladesh’s performance in spending aid was the best among Asian countries last year and if we can continue it, we hope that more loans will be coming from Japan,” he said.
Dhaka and Tokyo signed the 33rd loan package of about $760m in February last year and the 34th involving $1.03bn the following month.
Earlier, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) for Bangladesh Mikio Hataeda told the Dhaka Tribune that development partnership between the two countries would continue.
He also said if the Bangladesh government could show its capacity to implement the ongoing projects, then the Japanese government would be positive in increasing its assistance.
When contacted, Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Masud bin Momen told the Dhaka Tribune: “Japan always provides unconditional loans and we look forward to more assistance from them.”
The budget session is underway in Japan now and it will conclude this month.
Japan usually starts assistance negotiations with receiver countries after passing its national budget.
About the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to Bangladesh this month, Momen said: “We are yet to get confirmation. If the visit takes place, it will be a goodwill one.”
The minister is expected to visit Bangladesh from March 21-22.
MRP service in Tokyo
The Bangladesh mission in Tokyo is set to introduce machine-readable passports and machine-readable visa services from today.
Home Secretary CQM Mostaque would inaugurate the service, Momen said.
“We made preparations for the last one and a half years, and now we are introducing it,” he added.
