Envoy’s absence in PM’s Japan visit an internal matter: Shama

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Saturday said the decision to recall Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Tokyo visit is an internal matter. 

“The decision on when an ambassador will be called back rests entirely with the foreign ministry,” she told reporters at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Shama was speaking after a dialogue organised by ActionAid ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference to be held from 9 to 20 November.

It emerged last week that Daud would not accompany the prime minister on his Tokyo trip.

Tarique is scheduled to visit Japan from 26 to 29 October, with trade, investment, infrastructure development and other areas of cooperation expected to feature prominently in discussions.

Regarding bilateral ties, Shama said the island nation has remained as Bangladesh’s leading trade and development partner for many years.

“Our relationship dates back to our Liberation War and has grown deeper over time,” she added.

She expressed optimism that the visit would also help attract fresh Japanese investment to Bangladesh.