Both Japan and China can help Bangladesh reach its full potential

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Opinion

Closer ties with Japan will not harm Bangladesh’s relationship with China. Better transport and energy supply can help no matter where the money comes from

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Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey is a Bangladeshi diplomat, journalist and analyst.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, Bangladesh looks forward to a new dawn. The hope that comes with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Japan goes beyond the deals signed or the financial support expected. It shows a country that has emerged from authoritarian rule and wants to turn its new political voice into bigger economic chances and freedom of choice.

For a government chosen by the people, foreign policy must answer one question: how does it make life better for the people who gave it power? Bangladesh needs employment, steady energy, strong industries and institutions that people trust. Its diplomacy should help those goals while preserving Bangladesh’s ability to decide its path without getting caught in the fights of larger powers.

Japan plays a role in that effort. It welcomed Bangladesh soon after independence, when a war‑scarred nation had to rebuild. Over time, Japan helped build the roads, ports and other infrastructure that let the economy grow. Dhaka’s metro, the airport’s third terminal and the development of the Matarbari port show a friendship that has endured across governments and generations.

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