Photo : Collected

DHAKA, July 7, 2026 (BSS) - A modern and architecturally distinctive Bangladesh Children's Library, designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, will be built on the premises of the Bangladesh National Museum, marking a new milestone in Bangladesh-Japan cultural cooperation.

The development was discussed today during a courtesy meeting between Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi at the ministry in the capital.

During the meeting, the two sides held detailed discussions on the long-
standing friendship between Bangladesh and Japan, strengthening bilateral 
cultural cooperation and future collaborative initiatives of mutual interest.

Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 27, 2023, the 
minister thanked architect Tadao Ando and the government of Japan for 
undertaking the landmark project.

He expressed hope that the children's library would serve as a lasting symbol 
of the deep friendship between Bangladesh and Japan while playing a 
significant role in nurturing the intellect, creativity and imagination of 
children. 

He also sought the Japanese Embassy's continued support for the project's 
swift implementation.

Ambassador Saida praised Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage, traditional 
folk arts and fine arts, and reaffirmed Japan's continued participation in 
the International Asian Art Biennale hosted by Bangladesh.

He also assured Japan's continued cooperation in preserving cultural 
heritage, modernising museums, archaeological excavation and scientific 
conservation, cultural delegation and artist exchanges, as well as 
technological development in the library and archives sectors.

Welcoming the newly-appointed ambassador, the minister wished him a 
successful tenure in Bangladesh and noted that Japan has remained one of 
Bangladesh's most trusted and longstanding development partners since the 
country's independence in 1971.

He expressed gratitude for Japan's unwavering support to Bangladesh's socio-
economic development over the past five decades and stressed the importance 
of further strengthening bilateral cultural ties.

Referring to the structural changes in the current government, the minister 
proposed jointly updating the 2005 Cultural Exchange Programme through 
diplomatic channels to make it more relevant to present-day realities.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka were present at the 
meeting.