On the second day of the four-day visit to Japan, Bangladesh and Japan signed eight agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation in various fields including defense, agriculture, information technology. In the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Kishida Fumio, the Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak signed the ICT Agreement with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori on Wednesday.
Through this agreement, both countries will work together in the information and technology sector for socio-economic development. For this reason, both the countries will jointly take various initiatives on preparations, efficiency development, practices and procedures for further development of cyber security at government, business and consumer level.
Exchange of information on recent developments in the ICT industry sector of both countries under this MoU, though visible only as an agreement; Collaboration among participants in the digital economy to achieve socio-economic development in various sectors; undertake digital literacy and digital skills building programs; Japan-Bangladesh will participate together in various events on Society 5.0 to compete in the fourth industrial revolution.
Exchanging information on cyber threats in relation to cyber security cooperation; dialogue on current issues of cyber security; exchange information about prevailing cyber security policies and best practices. There will be an exchange of experts in human resource-skill development as well.
Reaffirming the applicability of international law in cyberspace, the two countries will work together in cooperation in the international arena, including the United Nations, to promote the implementation of the 2013, 2015 and 2021 UNGGE reports on state conduct. Japan and Bangladesh will also strive to promote responsible behavior and non-binding norms of participating countries in cyberspace, as well as conduct appropriate Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and voluntary activities to improve capacity.
Above all, this agreement will set an example of mutual cooperation in the field of ICT with Japanese tech universities and institutes to undertake upskilling programs for Bangladeshi students and IT sector workers.
Earlier, Zunaid Ahmed Palak held a meeting with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chairman and CEO Norihiko Ishiguru, Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) President Aso Taro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi under the direction of the Prime Minister.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services- BASIS too signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japan Information Technology Services Industry Association (JISA) in the presence of the Prime Minister to encourage Japanese investors to invest in Bangladesh’s ICT sector at the summit on trade and investment on Thursday. JISA Chairman Takashi Hara and BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, JISA President Takeshi Miyamoto and BASIS Vice President (Administration) Abu Dawood Khan were present during the signing.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the Japanese National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Amoi, Koto-ku, Japan with her tour companions on the sidelines of the agreement-meeting. During this time they learnt about how carbon dioxide emissions, plastics and other human activities are endangering the lives of humans and other animals on this planet and how to avoid it.