Dhaka-Tokyo deal on transfer of defence equipment likely soon
As part of the goal to promote regional peace and stability, Bangladesh and Japan may soon sign an agreement on the transfer of defence equipment and technology.
"We are in discussion on an agreement concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology. We will not be able to disclose the details at this moment. However, discussion is progressing in a positive manner," Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori said.
He was addressing a roundtable on Bangladesh-Japan relations, organised by the Pan-Asia Research Institute, a Japan-based think tank, at the Japanese embassy in the capital yesterday.
Japan selected Bangladesh as one of the four countries -- others being the Philippines, Malaysia and Fiji -- to be the beneficiaries of its new Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme. The two countries have also agreed to appoint defence attaches in their respective embassies.
The issue was discussed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan in April this year.
Japan-Bangladesh bilateral trade now stands close to $4 billion annually. The East Asian country has provided the largest amount of overseas development assistance, $24.72 billion, to Bangladesh since 1971.
Japan is developing some major infrastructures, including Matarbari power plant, metro rail, and Dhaka airport's third terminal, in Bangladesh.
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