Ahead of Tarique Rahman’s Japan visit, Tokyo envisions connectivity for India’s northeast, Bay of Bengal region

Ahead of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s expected month-end Japan visit, diplomatic sources in Tokyo have told The Hindu that they are planning to create an ‘industrial value chain’ that will connect northeast Indian states with the Bay of Bengal region via Chittagong’s Matarbari deep-sea port that Japan has been funding.

In exclusive remarks shared with The Hindu, a senior diplomatic source in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Matarbari port can ‘transform’ Bangladesh into an industrial hub and enhance regional connectivity.

“The Matarbari Port holds the potential to transform Bangladesh into a regional industrial hub,” said a senior Japanese diplomatic source. The port is in focus as PM Rahman is likely to seek Japanese financial support for 2026-’31 for a number of projects, including the Matarbari industrial, port and commercial hub. As part of the preparation, PM Rahman visited Matarbari in August, where he was briefed about the further requirements of the project.

Once completed, the Japan-backed port will be the only deep-sea port in Bangladesh, which currently relies on Singapore, Colombo and other ports in Malaysia for big ships.

Japanese diplomats have envisioned Matarbari port as part of an industrial value chain that would connect the seven northeastern states with the Bay of Bengal and the Southeast Asian regions through Bangladesh. Japan has supported a similar industrial value chain that connects Bangkok of Thailand with Cambodia and Vietnam.

“A model to emulate is Bangkok, which led regional economic growth through its ports and the Southern Economic Corridor,” said the official in a written response to The Hindu, referring to the Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam developmental corridor project that is assisted by Japan with funding and infrastructure plans.

This connectivity project has been cited by Japanese diplomats as a success that they would like to replicate around Matarbari to enhance connectivity among Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.

The Matarbari deep-sea port has received funding from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), and much of the work was carried out during the Sheikh Hasina period, when India-Bangladesh relations were relatively smooth, making connectivity projects feasible.

During that time, the Maitri Bridge, which connected Tripura over the Feni river, was built, opening possibilities of connectivity between northeast India and Chittagong and Matarbari ports. However, the Maitri bridge remains non-operational as India-Bangladesh relation has been hit with political uncertainties.

Japanese officials, however, have been largely positive about long-term India-Bangladesh dynamics and said, “Enhancing connectivity from Bangladesh to northeast India and neighbouring countries will further reinforce the utility of this port”.

Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh had earlier announced that Prime Minister Rahman had received an invitation from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to visit Japan for four days. The visit is yet to be officially announced by either side, but The Hindu has learnt that the bilateral agenda for the visit is being finalised, and the Maheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative is part of the agenda.