Will continue to be a dev partner

The Japanese Government will keep contributing to Bangladesh on its journey towards turning into a developed country, said Ito Naoki, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, yesterday.

The Japanese envoy made the remarks during his chief guest speech at a programme marking the golden jubilee of Japan-based NGO Shapla Neer in the capital's The Daily Star Centre.

"We can further elevate the partnership between Japan and Bangladesh to new heights, until the day Bangabandhu's dream of "Sonar Bangla" comes true," said the ambassador.

Naoki also said the Japanese development corporation in Bangladesh hit a new record of mega infrastructure projects, including the metro rail project in Dhaka, the Dhaka airport project, the development of Matarbari deep sea port and the Bangabandhu railway bridge project.

Tomoko Uchiyama, country director of Shapla Neer, gave the welcome speech, while senior advisor of the NGO Prof Ohashi Masaaki made a video presentation.Shapla Neer was established on September 1, 1972, by a group of young Japanese volunteers, who visited Bangladesh immediately after the country's independence to rehabilitate the underprivileged people of the country.

In September 2022, Shapla Neer reached the 50-year mark of its journey in Bangladesh. The NGO is currently working in Bangladesh, Nepal and Japan to advocate for human rights.