Hara Shohei, senior vice president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), recently visited Bangladesh to commemorate the seven Japanese victims of the Holey Artisan Attack on 1 July 2016, at a memorial ceremony organised by JICA on 3 July 2024.
His visit aimed to fortify relations with the government of Bangladesh, highlighting JICA’s unwavering support in promoting industry diversification and contributing to Bangladesh’s economic development and sustainable growth, reads a press release.
During his stay, Hara Shohei engaged with various Ministers and government officials.
He met Md Tazul Islam, minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, to convey appreciation for the cooperation on JICA-supported activities and to exchange views on existing and planned projects.
He also met the minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, where he highlighted JICA’s cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, forestry, air pollution control, and waste management. Hara Shohei expressed interest in continued discussions on capacity development, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing.
On 4 July 2024, Hara Shohei met the Minister of Finance, A H Mahmood Ali and Minister of State for Finance, Waseqa Ayesha Khan.
In the meeting, he emphasised cooperation through JICA-funded projects and reiterated JICA’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in achieving sustainable economic growth.
Hara Shohei also met the Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid to discuss milestone projects focusing on power grid stability and capacity development of government officials, reiterating his commitment to ongoing cooperation.
Photo: Courtesy
During his visit, Hara Shohei toured multiple JICA-supported project sites, including the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), Dhaka MRT Line 6, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3, Kharulia Talimul Quran Madrasa, Matarbari Power Plant, and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital.
On 30 June, Hara Shohei visited BSEZ at Araihazar.
Observing Singer’s new factory operation, he noted that BSEZ would be crucial in promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and industry diversification in Bangladesh. He stressed that maximising the BSEZ’s high-quality functionalities requires unwavering support from the Government of Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), National Board of Revenue (NBR), and Customs.
On 1 July, he visited Dhaka MRT Line 6, praising it as a successful bilateral cooperation project. “Dhaka MRT is one of the most successful projects with Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) by JICA and a shining example of friendship and trust between Bangladesh and Japan. We, at JICA, are very proud and honoured to have walked with Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited and the Government of Bangladesh since the beginning of a long journey. We will continue our cooperation for future MRT lines,” said Hara Shohei.
Upon visiting Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3, he added, “JICA remains dedicated to supporting projects that meet today’s needs and anticipate the future demands of a growing economy. We envision Terminal 3 becoming a hub of innovation and efficiency in the aviation sector, driving economic opportunities and enhancing regional connectivity.”
On 2 July, Hara Shohei visited the Matarbari Power Plant, commending its progress despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine War.
He stated that the Matarbari Power Plant would strengthen Bangladesh’s power generation capacity and contribute to a stable power supply system. JICA’s comprehensive approach to developing the deep-sea port, roads, and bridges in Matarbari and surrounding areas will contribute to nationwide economic development.
He also visited Kharulia Talimul Quran Madrasa in Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, where the Upazila Parishad has provided a school bus for the female students with funding from the JICA-supported Upazila Governance and Development Project (UGDP). The madrasa authority expressed gratitude to UGDP for its contributions to all upazilas nationwide, emphasising the positive impacts of enhanced educational access for girls.
Hara Shohei also visited Nawabi Voj Restaurant to observe the impact of ‘The Project for Strengthening the Inspection, Regulatory and Coordinating Function of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA).’ He observed sample collection and inspection processes, appreciating the capacity-building activities of BFSA officials.
On 4 July, Hara Shohei visited Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital to observe two hospital wards. The capacity-building of the nursing services project contributes to strengthening the implementation system of clinical nursing practices at the collaborative hospitals for nursing students. He also visited the Imaging Diagnostic Centre at SSMCH and urged the construction team to prioritise safety measures and quality management.
He visited the Pre-paid Gas Meter Project, which has raised awareness among users, significantly reducing gas usage. Users are satisfied as their monthly expenditure has been lowered. The project also contributes to detecting gas leakage and reducing methane emissions to the environment.
