Staff Reporter:
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has sought Japan’s cooperation in reforming and restructuring Bang-ladesh Police to further strengthen law enforcement and public safety.
He made the call during a courtesy meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh SAIDA Shinichi at the Secretariat’s Home Ministry Office in Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.
During the meeting, the Home Minister described Japan as a trusted friend and one of Bangladesh’s larg-est development partners. Japan’s involvement in major infrastructure projects, including the Dhaka Metrorail and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, implemented through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), he highlighted.
Salahuddin Ahmed noted that Japan has already contributed to improving traffic safety under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and expressed hope for expanded collaboration in police reform and restruc-turing.
“We will place suitable proposals from our side in this regard,” he said.
The discussions covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including law and order, security coopera-tion, police modernization, traffic management, trade and investment.
Ambassador SAIDA congratulated the minister on assuming his new portfolio and assured continued Japanese support for Bangladesh’s infrastructural development.
The envoy mentioned that the DMP’s traffic safety project was completed last year and expressed Japan’s interest in expanding cooperation with the police.
Referring to the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Holey Artisan attack, the Ambassador requested en-hanced security measures for Japanese nationals living in Bangladesh.
In response, the Home Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all Japanese citizens, including investors and businessmen.
“We are ready to provide necessary security to all Japanese nationals residing in Bangladesh and will consider any request from Japan with utmost importance,” he said.
Rebeka Khan, joint secretary of the Political-1 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, KOMINE Ken, first secretary (Political), and MOCHIDA Yutaro, first secretary (Economic) of the Japanese Embassy, were also present at the meeting.
