2024-09-05 22:04:23
Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Agriculture of the Interim Government Lieutenant General (retd.) Md. Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori met with Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. At this time, the adviser sought Japan’s cooperation to overcome the damage caused to the agricultural sector by the recent floods in Bangladesh.
During the meeting at the Agriculture Adviser’s office in the Secretariat on Wednesday (September 4), they discussed various issues including agriculture, police, security of Japanese citizens in Bangladesh, Rohingya and recent floods in the country.
The adviser welcomed the Japanese ambassador and said that the recent floods in the country have caused huge damage to other crops including mango. To overcome this loss, the cooperation of Japan, one of the development partners, is needed.
Referring to Japan’s ability to deal with natural disasters, the ambassador said that the Japanese government will cooperate with various sectors in flood-affected areas through NGOs under the ‘Japan Platform’. For this reason, the Japanese government allocated 2 million dollars to Japan Platform.
Noting that Bangladesh is producing more agriculture, the ambassador said, apart from the government, the Japanese private sector is also interested in working with Bangladesh’s agricultural sector.
The Japanese ambassador told the agricultural adviser that Japan is ready to cooperate in flood forecasting and damage assessment.
When the ambassador raised concerns about the safety of Japanese citizens living in Bangladesh, Japanese-funded projects and various Japanese industrial plants in the EPZ, the advisor assured them of ensuring 100% security in this regard.
Talking about the law and order situation in Bangladesh, the advisor said that the government has already taken various steps to maintain law and order. For that purpose, an operation has been started to recover illegal weapons. Terrorists will also be arrested in the ongoing operation.
The Ambassador expressed his country’s interest in providing training to the Bangladesh Police by the relevant Japanese organizations to make them people-friendly.
Regarding the Rohingya population, the ambassador said, the law and order situation in Rohingya camps and local areas is always at risk. In addition to the safety of Japanese nationals working there, the safety of the local population is also threatened.
In this regard, the Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser said that the internal situation in Myanmar is unusual. Their citizens are not safe in the country. Criminals produce drugs in Myanmar and smuggle them into our country. The government is working to ensure the security of the Rohingya camp and its surroundings. In addition, he has taken a strict stand against drug trafficking. Myanmar should take back their citizens, the Rohingya people should go back to their country.
At that time, the second secretary of the Japanese Embassy, EC Hideki and Iwasaki Daichi, along with the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Home Affairs were present.