Home Affairs and Agriculture Advisor Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) said that Japan is one of the main partners and a tested friend in the development of Bangladesh. Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the country has been extensively supporting the development of Bangladesh’s agricultural sector. Japan’s partnership in the development of Bangladesh’s agricultural sector will be further increased in the coming days.
He said these things during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) afternoon.
The meeting discussed cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries, especially in processing and marketing of agricultural products, post-harvest management and conservation of crops, climate and smart agriculture, irrigation and water management, Bangladesh’s participation in the International Horticulture Expo to be held in Yokohama, Japan in 2027, the meeting of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture, security and law and order situation, police reform, cooperation in traffic management, and the issue of national parliamentary elections, among other issues of mutual interest.
Welcoming the ambassador at the beginning of the meeting, the advisor said that Japan is one of the closest friends of Bangladesh. This relationship will be further strengthened in the coming days. Thanking the advisor, the ambassador said that the ‘International Horticulture Expo’ will be held in Yokohama, Japan in 2027. He invited Bangladesh to participate in this international expo.
The advisor said that Bangladesh is a major agricultural country. And Japan is a country that uses the latest technology in the agricultural sector. Therefore, Japan can cooperate in the agricultural sector of Bangladesh, especially in the areas of processing and marketing of agricultural products, post-harvest management and preservation of crops, climate and smart agriculture, irrigation and water management, etc. He said that Japan can cooperate in the preservation of agricultural products in Bangladesh by setting up modern cold storage and providing cooling vans. Moreover, Japan can help us with modern agricultural equipment and machinery. At this time, he called on the ambassador to cooperate by providing technical assistance for the manufacture of modern agricultural equipment and machinery in Bangladesh.
The ambassador said that the last meeting of the Joint Working Group of the two countries on agriculture was held in Tokyo, Japan in May 2024. The next meeting in this regard needs to be organized quickly. The advisor said that the next meeting of the Joint Working Group may be held in Dhaka in October or November this year. Bangladesh will provide all kinds of cooperation in organizing this meeting.
In response to the ambassador’s question regarding the law and order situation and security in Bangladesh, the advisor said that the law and order situation in Dhaka is currently improving gradually. However, there is room for further improvement and we are trying in this regard. When asked about the law and order situation during the next parliamentary elections, the advisor said, “There is no chance of the law and order situation deteriorating then, but I hope it will improve day by day.”
Regarding the capability and credibility of the police, the advisor said, “The capability, morale and credibility of the police have increased a lot compared to the situation after August 5.” He sought Japan’s assistance in modern traffic management at this time. Moreover, he requested the ambassador to provide assistance to the Naval Police and Coast Guard with patrol vessels and modern equipment and to send a large number of police members to Japan for advanced training. The ambassador said that Japan will be nominated for the post of executive committee member in the next Interpol election. The advisor assured Bangladesh of full support to Japan for this post.
The meeting was attended by concerned officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Japanese Embassy.
