Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has paid tribute to Bangladesh’s Liberation War heroes at the National Memorial in Savar.
Abe led his entourage to the memorial around 2pm Saturday and placed flowers on it in memory of the martyrs.
He also signed the visitor’s book.
His motorcade then headed towards the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at the capital’s Dhanmondi area.
The Savar memorial and adjoining places were wrapped in tight security over the high-profile visit.
Local visitors were denied entry while Abe paid his respects.
Abe’s short visit marks the first visit by a Japan premier in more than a decade.
It comes just three months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Tokyo visit when both leaders launched a “comprehensive partnership”.
She welcomed her counterpart at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after a special flight carrying him and his 150-member entourage landed there at 1pm.
Abe was given a guard of honour in the red carpet reception during which greetings were exchanged.
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was the last Japanese prime minister to come to Bangladesh in August 2000, when Hasina was in power during her first term.
Dhaka’s streets were all set to welcome Abe as his portraits along with Hasina’s lined the streets.
Flags of both countries fluttered at various points of the city.
According to Abe’s itinerary, he will spend less than 22 hours in Dhaka before leaving for Sri Lanka.
Japan, the largest aid donor of Bangladesh, has alluded to “political and economic” interests.
The prime minister’s wife, Akie Abe, who is accompanying him, is supposed to join some events all on her own.
After paying tribute at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s memorial, Abe will deliver a lecture at a Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum programme at Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel, where he will be staying.
He will then go to the Prime Minister’s Office for the summit meeting.
Japan plans to give some 600 billion Yen ($5.71 billion) in official development assistance to Bangladesh over the next four to five years, starting in fiscal 2015.
In this fiscal, its aid will touch $1.2 billion. Both leaders will issue a joint statement.
From the PM’s office, Abe will head for Bangabhaban to call on President Md Abdul Hamid.
Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad will meet him at the hotel before the banquet dinner Hasina will host for her counterpart at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
On Sunday morning, Abe will visit an exhibition at the Institute of Fine Arts before leaving Dhaka.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will see him off at the airport at about 10.30 am.
The foreign ministry in a statement said the visit was an indication of Tokyo’s “very keen” interest in expanding and deepening “comprehensive partnership” in all spheres.
Both sides had embarked on “a new era of relationship” during Hasina’s visit, when Abe confirmed he would come to Dhaka shortly.
Japan established its diplomatic ties in February 1972, soon after Bangladesh’s independence, and quickly became the country’s largest bilateral development partner.
Its assistance comes regularly as grant, aid, technical assistance, and soft loans. The total grants and aid reached $11 billion last year.
Source: bdnews24
