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Bangladesh and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral defence cooperation, with both sides expressing interest in strengthening military engagement through enhanced training, technology sharing, capacity building and regular exchanges between their armed forces.
The issues came up for discussion when Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam at the Armed Forces Division (AFD) headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday.
The ambassador was accompanied by a three-member Japanese delegation, according to a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The meeting reviewed the existing state of defence relations between the two friendly countries and explored ways to broaden cooperation in line with their shared commitment to regional peace, security and stability.
A major focus of the discussions was Japan’s potential technological assistance in the modernisation of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The two sides also exchanged views on how such cooperation could contribute to the implementation of Bangladesh’s long-term military modernisation programme, known as the “Forces Goal”, aimed at enhancing the operational capability and professionalism of the country’s armed forces.
According to the ISPR, both Bangladesh and Japan agreed to increase training opportunities for military personnel through joint courses, specialised programmes and institutional cooperation. They also emphasised the importance of expanding regular exchanges of military delegations to promote mutual understanding, share professional experience and strengthen institutional ties.
The discussions further highlighted the need to enhance professional and technical capacity-building initiatives, enabling the armed forces of both countries to cooperate more closely in areas such as military education, specialised skills development and defence management.
The two sides also explored new avenues for collaboration in the exchange of modern defence equipment and technologies, reflecting their growing interest in developing a more comprehensive defence partnership.
Officials said the meeting underscored the steady progress in Bangladesh-Japan relations, which have expanded significantly in recent years beyond economic cooperation to include strategic dialogue, maritime security, disaster management and defence engagement.
Japan has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s closest development partners, supporting major infrastructure projects, economic development and human resource development. In recent years, the two countries have also increased cooperation on regional security issues, particularly in promoting a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific region while maintaining peace and stability through dialogue and collaboration.
The ISPR said Sunday’s meeting is expected to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Japan and pave the way for deeper, long-term and mutually beneficial strategic cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.
Officials expressed optimism that the growing defence partnership would contribute not only to military modernisation and capacity enhancement but also to broader regional security cooperation and mutual trust between Dhaka and Tokyo.
