Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA, visited two countries—the Kingdom of Bhutan and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh—from June 27 to July 6. During his visit, in addition to meetings with the King of Bhutan and the prime ministers of both countries, he exchanged views with senior officials from both nations, attended the completion ceremony for the Royal Center for Infectious Diseases (RCID) in the Kingdom of Bhutan—which marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations—as well as a memorial service held on July 2 for the victims of the Dhaka terrorist attack. Through these activities and inspections of JICA cooperation projects, he confirmed the achievements of past cooperation and exchanged views on the challenges and prospects for the future development of both countries.
[Kingdom of Bhutan]
On June 28, Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA, attended the completion ceremony for the Royal Center for Infectious Diseases (RCID) in Thimphu District, which was constructed with grant aid from Japan.
The RCID is being developed as Bhutan’s first hospital specializing in infectious diseases and is expected to serve as a hub for strengthening infectious disease diagnosis and treatment systems and for training medical personnel. In the construction of the hospital, Japan’s technical expertise and knowledge regarding hospital construction and operation are being fully utilized, and Japanese-made medical equipment will also be employed. Through this project, JICA will contribute to strengthening infectious disease control measures and improving the healthcare system in Bhutan.
Chairman Tanaka Delivers a Speech at the Completion Ceremony for the Royal Center for Infectious Diseases
In addition, during his stay in Bhutan, Chairman Tanaka not only delivered a lecture at the Royal University of Bhutan but also held meetings with government officials, including King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (the 4th King), King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (the 5th King), and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. During each of these meetings, gratitude was expressed for the support provided by the Japanese people. Discussions were held regarding the challenges facing Bhutan and measures to address them. Both Japan and Bhutan reaffirmed the importance of cooperation for Bhutan’s sustainable development and confirmed their commitment to continuing to deepen the partnership between the two countries.
Even before diplomatic relations were established 40 years ago, Mr. Kyōji Nishioka—who had been dispatched to Bhutan as an agricultural expert for the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency (now JICA)—was awarded the title of the title “Dashö” (meaning “the most excellent person”) by the King of Bhutan for his achievements, and he has since been affectionately known as “Dashö Nishioka.” Through such wide-ranging exchanges, Japanese people are held in very high regard and respect in this country.
Scene following the meeting with Prime Minister Tserin Tobgye
Chairman Tanaka Giving a Lecture at the Royal University of Bhutan
[People’s Republic of Bangladesh]
Next, Chairman Tanaka attended a memorial service in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to honor the seven Japanese nationals who lost their lives in the July 2016 Dhaka terrorist attack (while engaged in a preparatory survey for the Dhaka Urban Transportation Improvement Project).
The memorial service was held on July 2 and attended by Tomoaki Shimada, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Shinichi Saita, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and Mohamed Ziaur Hock, Deputy Secretary General of the Road Transport and , Muhammad Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, Assistant Secretary of the Economic Relations Bureau at the Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh, Mohamed Norealam, Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Muhammad Shaugatul Alam, President of the Dhaka Metropolitan Transport Corporation, as well as officials from the governments of both Bangladesh and Japan, the ceremony was held in front of the memorial monument erected within the depot of the Dhaka Metropolitan Railway Line 6, which was constructed with a yen loan. Marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack, Chairman Tanaka, in his address, expressed his condolences to the victims, including the seven individuals who lost their lives, and paid tribute to and expressed gratitude for their tremendous contributions to Bangladesh’s development. He also pledged to further promote safety-first initiatives to ensure that such an incident never happens again.
Chairman Tanaka Delivering the Commencement Address
Following the interim government that had been in place since August 2024, a new government was formed after the general election in February 2026. During meetings with government officials, including Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, gratitude was expressed for JICA’s long-standing cooperation. Gratitude was also expressed regarding the yen loan titled “Emergency Support Loan for Enhancing Economic Resilience and Stabilizing Energy Supply,” for which a loan agreement was signed in June 2026. This project is the first yen loan under the “POWERR Asia (an initiative aimed at strengthening energy resilience in the Asian region), and both sides affirmed its significance as a project that contributes to stabilizing the economic foundation and strengthening the stable supply of energy under the new administration. They also discussed the promotion of projects currently underway in various fields—such as the Dhaka Metro, the Moheshkali-Matabari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI), and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), and discussed future cooperation opportunities.
In Cox’s Bazar, the delegation visited Rohingya refugee camps, exchanged views with the Bangladeshi government agencies responsible for refugee response, and inspected on-site humanitarian assistance efforts—including JICA-supported livelihood improvement initiatives, as well as food aid, healthcare, and vocational training provided by UN agencies and other organizations. Furthermore, as part of support for host communities, we inspected income-generating initiatives targeting fisherfolk. We also visited sites related to the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (Moheshkhali Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative: MIDI), which is currently under construction and will be the country’s first deep-sea port. They confirmed that this project contributes to strengthening regional connectivity—which is also important for Japan—and laying the foundation for industrial development, thereby helping to realize the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).” In Dhaka, I inspected infrastructure facilities such as MRT Line 6 and the new airport terminal, which are helping to improve urban transportation. I observed the progress of urban development supporting the country’s sustainable economic growth—with the participation of Japanese companies—and confirmed that the country’s growth is encouraging Japanese companies to expand their operations there.
Group photo taken during a meeting with Prime Minister Tarek Rahman and other government officials; a site visit to observe FiLEP’s support for the seafood processing industry
JICA will continue to cooperate with Bhutan and Bangladesh toward sustainable and equitable economic growth and inclusive development in each country.
© Source JICA