PM seeks Japan’s cooperation to reopen damaged metrorail stations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought cooperation from Japan to reopen soon the two damaged metrorail stations at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara here.

She sought the assistance when Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh IWAMA Kiminori paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.

PM's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the newsmen after the meeting.

The Japanese ambassador said they will first assess the damages of the metrorail stations and then decide how they can help Bangladesh reopen the stations.

The Japanese envoy expressed his sympathy over the casualties caused by the massive rampage across the country centering the quota reform movement.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the miscreants damaged the government establishments built for public welfare, security and services.

"They attacked those establishments which were useful for the people and those were the targets of the attackers. This is very much heartbreaking for me," she said.

The Premier said they have built the establishments giving tireless efforts in the last 15 years.

The Japanese envoy said his country's businessmen are waiting for the upcoming EPA Negotiation on Public Private Economic Dialogue to be held in Tokyo at the second half of August.

Prior to holding the dialogue, he hoped that the law and order situation will become normal.

He said it will help hold the dialogue in a successful manner.

The envoy became emotional while talking about the damaged stations of the metro rail.

He said a handful of people are behind the attacks on the metrorail while a huge number of people are the beneficiaries of it.

He continued: "Sweat and tears of many people were involved in building the metrorail."

He said that he had seen damaging the metrorail stations which hurt him much.

PM's Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Senior Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Masud Bin Momen were present, among others, at the meeting.