Japan remains friend of new Bangladesh: envoy

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori today reiterated Japan’s unwavering commitment to its friendship with Bangladesh, emphasising that Tokyo’s stance remains unchanged during the country’s interim government.
“We’ve discussed how we can respond to the needs and requests of the new Bangladesh government,” the ambassador told reporters during a media briefing at the Japanese embassy this evening.
The briefing was organised to share updates on excavation efforts to recover the remains of former Japanese soldiers buried in the Mainamati War Cemetery between November 13 and 22.
Ambassador Kiminori underscored Japan’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh, highlighting its consistent efforts to support Dhaka’s economic development over the years.
“Japan has been providing significant assistance to Bangladesh regardless of political changes,” he noted.
“There are many challenges ahead, but we have been working together for over 50 years, and we will continue to do so,” the envoy said, reaffirming Japan’s dedication to its bilateral relationship.
During the excavation, a team from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, along with the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties (JARREC), retrieved remains believed to belong to 23 former Japanese soldiers.
The team plans to take the remains back to Japan for DNA testing to confirm their identities.
Once verified, the team will return to Bangladesh to recover the rest of the remains of the identified soldiers.