PM recalls Shinzo Abe's contribution to Bangladesh's development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had played a great role in the development of Bangladesh as the cabinet unanimously adopted a condolence motion on his demise.

"He (Shinzo Abe) was always beside Bangladesh regarding its development alongside conducting development of Japan," she said while chairing the weekly cabinet meeting.

The premier joined virtually the meeting held at the Cabinet Division at secretariat from Ganabhaban.

She recalled Shinzo Abe's role in constructing several mega projects in Bangladesh such as the Matarbai power plant and deep sea port, metro rail and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

The premier added that he (Abe) also helped Bangladesh in conducting a feasibility study on the Padma Bridge and building Rupsha Bridge.

She said Abe had played a courageous role in continuing works of the projects that included metro rail being implemented by the Japanese government after the Holey Artisan attack in Bangladesh that resulted in the deaths of several Japanese and Italian citizens.

"Many people had thought that the projects which were being implemented by Japan would be stopped," she said.

At that time Abe extended his helping hands, saying that he would always be with Bangladesh in its need.

The prime minister said that her government had brought the situation under control within a short period after the terror attack.

Sheikh Hasina said Abe supported Bangladesh on different issues on the international stage and helped to get duty and quota-free access to various Bangladeshi products including readymade garments to Japan.

"So, he (Shinzo Abe) had a great role in today's development of Bangladesh. We deeply mourned his death and we adopted unanimously an obituary motion in the cabinet, " she said.

“Bangladesh observed a day of mourning to this end," she continued.

This is truly a day of sadness as such a heinous act happened in a place like Japan, she said, adding, "We don't know whether the mystery of his killing will be revealed."

The prime minister said that they couldn’t even think that such a heinous act might take place in a country like Japan.

"We couldn’t realise why the attack was launched on a person like him. He was a good man, sensitive, patriotic and true politician," she said.

The premier said that the Japanese government and some development partners also helped construct the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in its maiden visit to Japan in 1973 after the Liberation War sought help from them in constructing the bridge.

“Since the independence of Bangladesh, each of the Japanese governments has stood by Bangladesh,” she said.