DHAKA: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladesh will sign an agreement with Japan on getting $ 2.5 billion official development assistance (ODA).

He told this at a press conference organized by the Foreign Ministry on Sunday (May 26) ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Japan, Saudi Arabia and Finland.

At the press conference, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Japan from May 28 to 30. It is the prime minister's first visit to Japan after 11th parliamentary elections.

During the tour, official development assistance (ODA) agreement worth about $ 2.5 billion will be signed between Bangladesh and Japan. It will be the 40th ODA agreement between two nations, the minister added.

Five projects will be implemented with this fund. The projects are - Matarbari Port Development Project (1), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Project (Line 1), FDI Promotion Project (2), Energy efficiency and Conservation Increasing Project and Matarbari Coal Power Project (5).

The Foreign Minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a bilateral meeting, will seek help from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in solving the Rohingya crisis. She will also attend Future of Asia Conference in Japan.

After the tour of Japan, the Prime Minister will go to Saudi Arabia. She will join the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) Summit in Saudi Arabia. The PM will visit Finland from Saudi Arabia.  

PM Sheikh Hasina will return home on June 8.

State Minister for Foreign affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were present in the press conference.

BDST: 1800 HRS, MAY 26, 2019
RS/SMS