Bangladesh Bangladesh to get patrol boats under Japan's military aid program

[Isa Khan]

On November 15, in Dhaka, H.E. Mr. IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, SGP, psc, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, Prime Minister’s Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh signed and exchanged notes for 575 million yen in “Official Security Assistance (OSA)” grant aid.

OSA was established in 2023 as a new cooperation framework for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries with the aim of deepening our security cooperation with the countries, creating a desirable security environment, and contributing to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security, by enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities through the provision of equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructure.

Bangladesh, as a “Strategic Partner” of Japan, is located in front of the Bay of Bengal which is one of important sea lanes for Japan. It is getting more and more important to improve capabilities for monitoring and surveillance, and disaster relief of Bangladesh Navy, which implements such operations and other related activities in the Bay of Bengal.

This programme enables to provide patrol boats to Bangladeshi Navy which is expected to strengthen its capabilities for monitoring and surveillance, and disaster relief and to contribute to maintenance and enhancement of maritime security not only in the Bay of Bengal but also a whole Indo-Pacific region.

Bangladesh to get patrol boats under Japan's military aid program

The move makes Dhaka the second beneficiary of defense equipment under Tokyo’s new aid program.

www.japantimes.co.jp