Japan–Bangladesh Relations

Abstract

This article studies the nature of relationship between Japan and Bangladesh focusing mainly on the Japanese Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) policy for developing countries such as Bangladesh. It also covers trade and other related issues that shape the bilateral relations of these two countries in a historical perspective. This is an interesting study as Bangladesh has consistently been a major recipient of Japanese aid and assistance for a long time in various areas of crucial importance for Bangladesh's development ranging from education, health, rural development, power plant development, private sector development, urban waste management, infrastructure development like building big bridges over mighty rivers, water supply in major cities, good governance and democratization projects. Japan is a great economic power and also regarded as an ‘aid great power’ but not a military superpower, thus, what determines its economic assistance policy and relations with a country like Bangladesh in South Asia is the central theme of this paper. Cultural relations between Japan and Bangladesh even go beyond the recent diplomatic history. Both the countries are culturally homogenous, natural disaster prone and scarce natural resource nations and Japan is the only country outside of the western world to be able to develop at par with the western countries while practicing democracy simultaneously. From all these points of view Japan can be considered as an ideal development model for Bangladesh.