Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday expressed hope that the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be concluded to get Japanese financial concession by 2026 when Bangladesh will be graduated from LDC status.

He expressed satisfaction on the visit of the Japanese Trade Negotiating Team for EPA to Dhaka last month to attend the 1st round of Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations.

Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan ONO Keiichi met Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon and discussed the issues.

Referring to the ratification by Bangladesh of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, Hasan requested for Japanese assistance for building a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) in Bangladesh as early as possible so that the Bangladeshi shipyards can be world class green certified shipyards to continue their ship breaking activities without any hassle.

He thanked the government of Japan along with Sasakawa Foundation for the continued efforts towards a durable solution for the safe, sustainable, and dignified return of the Rohingyas to the Rakhine State of Myanmar for peace, stability, and security in the region.

He appreciated Japan's humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas including those relocated to Bhashan Char.

The Japanese Senior Deputy Minister gave emphasis on the construction of Matarbari deep sea port in Bangladesh which will ensure greater connectivity in the region. He also looked forward to the early conclusion of EPA to boost bilateral trade and investment. Regarding ship recycling, he informed that Japanese experts will visit Bangladesh soon to ensure the TSDF facilities in Bangladesh. He thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting more than 1.2 million Rohingyas on humanitarian ground and assured of continued Japanese support towards their humanitarian assistance and repatriation process.

Hasan thanked the Senior Deputy Minister for visiting Bangladesh to attend the 5th Bangladesh-Japan Foreign Office Consultations.

He recalled the unwavering Japanese support for the cause of the independence of Bangladesh and stated that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's official visit to Japan in October 1973 laid the rock-solid foundation of today's exemplary Bangladesh-Japan relations.

During the meeting, Hasan expressed satisfaction at the good progress of JICA-assisted mega-infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, namely, Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Dhaka Metro Rail, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport 3rd Terminal, Bangabandhu Railway Bridge over Jamuna river etc.