Yohei Sasakawa, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar and Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The bilateral discussion focused on resolving the Rohingya crisis, reviewing the security situation in Rakhine State, and securing Japanese technical cooperation to establish an international-standard vaccine manufacturing plant in Bangladesh.
The high-level meeting took place on Monday (September 7, 2026) at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat. Envoy Sasakawa highlighted his five-decade commitment to peacebuilding and conflict resolution globally. Acknowledging the severe economic and infrastructural burden placed on Bangladesh by the Rohingya influx, Sasakawa reiterated Japan’s continued financial and humanitarian assistance. He noted that while authorities in Myanmar remain engaged on the issue, ongoing security complexities and local instability in Rakhine State continue to delay repatriation progress.
In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized that hosting over a million displaced Rohingyas has created immense pressure on Bangladesh’s national economy, infrastructure, and administrative resources. He reaffirmed that Bangladesh stands ready to extend all diplomatic and strategic support to ensure the safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya population. The Prime Minister added that returning to their homeland remains essential for restoring the Rohingyas’ access to education, healthcare, and long-term socio-economic development, offering Bangladesh’s assistance in post-repatriation rehabilitation. Additionally, when the Prime Minister requested Japanese support for establishing a modern vaccine production facility in Bangladesh, Envoy Sasakawa promised to actively facilitate the initiative.
