Japan to give 24 rescue boats

Japan is going to give 24 rescue boats to Bangladesh under a Tk 212 crore grant agreement.

Kazi Shofiqul Azam, secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Hitoshi Hirata, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Bangladesh, signed the deal at the ERD office in Dhaka yesterday. 

Hiroyasu Izumi, Japan's ambassador to Bangladesh, was present at the signing ceremony, according to a statement of the ERD.

The boats will also be used to ensure maritime security and check terrorist activities in the Bay of Bengal.

The rescue boats will be given to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, which will provide security to Bangladesh's commercial vessels after they enter the country's waters.