The President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr Tanaka Akihiko, concluded a five-day official visit to Bangladesh from 1 to 5 July 2026, during which he reaffirmed Japan–Bangladesh strategic ties and ongoing development cooperation, according to a press release said.
The visit covered high-level meetings, project inspections and humanitarian site visits in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, where discussions focused on infrastructure, energy security, economic zones and long-term development collaboration between the two countries.
Dr Tanaka attended the 10th memorial ceremony for seven Japanese nationals killed in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack, marking a moment of reflection on shared commitments to peace and resilience.
He also held a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where both sides reviewed major Japan-backed projects including Dhaka Metro Rail, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport expansion, the Moheshkhali–Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI), and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone. They also discussed JPY 50 billion emergency support under the POWERR Asia initiative aimed at regional energy security.
During his visit, Dr Tanaka met senior government officials including Dr Khalilur Rahman, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Minister of Finance and Planning; Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; and Shaikh Rabiul Alam, who serves across Roads, Transport and Bridges as well as Shipping and Railways portfolios. The meetings focused on infrastructure development, industrial expansion and capacity building for inclusive growth and regional connectivity.
On 1 July, Dr Tanaka visited Terminal 3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, a JICA-financed flagship project expected to enhance passenger capacity and support trade, tourism and investment once operational.
On 3 July, he visited project sites under the Moheshkhali–Matarbari initiative, including the power plant and deep seaport, which are intended to strengthen energy security and trade connectivity in line with Japan’s Updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision.
On 4 July in Cox’s Bazar, he observed humanitarian operations in Rohingya camps, visiting a World Food Programme e-voucher outlet, a UNHCR vocational training centre, an IOM clinic and JICA-supported livelihood programmes. He also met the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner to discuss ongoing assistance efforts. The same day, he inspected a JICA-supported fish landing centre project and visited fisheries livelihood enhancement activities aimed at improving post-harvest handling, seafood processing and income generation.
On 5 July, Dr Tanaka reviewed solid waste management initiatives in Dhaka North City Corporation, including the Japanese private-sector solution “J-Drum”, highlighting JICA’s broader development cooperation approach.
Concluding the visit, Dr Tanaka said the partnership between Japan and Bangladesh remains strong and pledged continued engagement in the years ahead.
