Bangladesh, Japan to hold 6th FOC in Tokyo Thursday

Bangladesh and Japan is set to hold their sixth Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Tokyo on Thursday to bolster bilateral relations and strategic partnership ahead of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' upcoming official visit to the country.

Foreign Secretary (East) Nazrul Islam is expected to lead the Bangladesh delegation, while Japan will be represented by its Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Akihiro Tsukii.

The FOC is taking place ahead of Yunus's scheduled visit to Japan from May 28.

The consultations are expected to cover a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including economic and defense cooperation, Japanese investment in Bangladesh, the Indo-Pacific strategy, the Rohingya crisis, developments in Myanmar, and regional security.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi held separate meetings at the foreign ministry in Dhaka with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and Secretary (East) Dr Nazrul Islam to discuss the upcoming consultations.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Japanese envoy said that the two sides would prioritise economic relations and future investment opportunities during the talks.

Responding to a question, he reiterated Japan's interest in supporting the development of Dhaka's second and third metro rail lines, underlining Tokyo's long-standing commitment to Bangladesh's infrastructure development.

Commenting on the proposed humanitarian corridor for Rohingya refugees, Saida said such an initiative would be a positive step if it proves to be both sustainable and effective.

Foreign ministry officials noted that people-to-people connectivity, regional peace, and future strategic cooperation would also be key topics during the dialogue.

The previous (fifth) round of the Bangladesh-Japan FOC was held in Dhaka in June 2024.