Bangladesh has withdrawn its candidature for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in support of its ‘long-tested’ friend Japan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced.
The announcement came at a joint briefing after the summit talk with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Saturday.
In a first visit by any Japanese prime minister in 14 years, Abe arrived in Dhaka around 1pm on a less than 22 hour tour.
Bangladesh and Japan were the two contenders for the non-permanent seat for 2016-2017.
But only one will be elected from Asia Pacific region.
Japan has long been trying to lure Bangladesh for its support for Tokyo’s candidature.
Hasina during his Tokyo visit told Japanese media at a briefing that Japanese people would definitely get “good news” during Abe’s tour in Dhaka.
She invited him to visit Bangladesh during their meeting in Tokyo in May.
“I will have to go back and discuss the matter with my cabinet colleagues. But we will definitely value the friendship with Japan,” Hasina had then said.
“We always remember with gratitude the Japanese support… Japan is our tested friend and Bangladesh is ready to make any sacrifice for the tested friend,” she also said.
During that visit, Abe promised $6 billion development assistance for Bangladesh for the next four to five years.
In his first speech on Saturday before the summit meeting he also said he would “promote” trade and investment in Bangladesh.
