Online Desk: Japan will provide grant aid of ¥575 million to the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh under the Official Security Assistance — a new cooperation framework of Tokyo aimed at strengthening the capabilities of armed forces and related organisations of recipient countries.

An agreement on the grant aid was signed on Wednesday in Dhaka.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori and Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman signed and exchanged notes on behalf of their respective sides.

Regarding the grant, Tokyo-headquartered financial newspaper The Nikkei reported on Wednesday that Japan will transfer four patrol ships to Bangladesh in a bid to help bolster Dhaka’s deterrence capabilities in the face of Beijing’s maritime expansion.

The report said that Japan recently agreed to transfer coastal radar equipment to the Philippines under the OSA. Bangladesh will be the second recipient of defence equipment under the framework.

Established in 2023, the OSA programme aims to deepen security cooperation with recipient countries, foster a favourable security environment and contribute to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security, according to a press release from the Japanese Embassy.

This is achieved by enhancing the security and deterrence capabilities of recipient countries through the provision of equipment, supplies and infrastructure development assistance, according to the press note.

It says that Bangladesh, a strategic partner of Japan, is located in front of the Bay of Bengal — a vital sea lane for Japan.

According to the Japanese Embassy media release, it is becoming increasingly important for Japan to strengthen the monitoring, surveillance and disaster relief capabilities of the Bangladesh Navy, which operates in the Bay of Bengal.

This grant aid will enable the island nation to provide the Bangladesh Navy with four patrol boats, enhancing its monitoring, surveillance and disaster relief capabilities.

Japan believes that this, in turn, will contribute to maintaining and enhancing maritime security not only in the Bay of Bengal but also throughout the Indo-Pacific region.