Bangladesh, along with the rest of Asia, has become a focal point of intense geopolitical competition. In this new reality of international relations, leadership, trust, and strategic partnerships have become more important than ever. Against this backdrop, an important question has emerged: Does Japan still retain its confidence in Sheikh Hasina? Recent developments have only strengthened that perception. Recently, Japan's influential news agency Jiji Press published an interview with Sheikh Hasina to mark the tenth anniversary of the Holey Artisan terrorist attack. In the interview, she paid tribute to the seven Japanese nationals who lost their lives in the 2016 attack, saying they had sacrificed their lives for Bangladesh's development. She also reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring the safety of Japanese citizens and highlighted the enduring strategic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan. A special condolence message from Sheikh Hasina was also broadcast during the memorial event honoring the victims. This raises an important question. Although Bangladesh is now governed by a different administration, why did Japan choose to feature Sheikh Hasina's message at such a significant national memorial event? Was it merely a diplomatic courtesy, or does it reflect a deeper, long-standing relationship built on trust and strategic cooperation? According to a reliable source, in April 2016 the international intelligence alliance Five Eyes warned Bangladesh of a possible terrorist attack. Based on that intelligence, Sheikh Hasina's government implemented unprecedented security measures across the diplomatic zones of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara. Nevertheless, on July 1, 2016, the devastating attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery took place, killing 20 hostages, including seven Japanese engineers working on Bangladesh's Metro Rail project. Many expected Japan to suspend its investments and development assistance to Bangladesh after losing seven of its nationals in a single attack. Instead, Japan took the opposite approach. It made clear that it would not bow to terrorism. As a result, cooperation on major infrastructure projects—including the Dhaka Metro Rail and the Matarbari Deep Sea Port—continued without interruption. Japan's assessment was that the Bangladesh government had responded to the intelligence warning with the highest level of security preparedness. Following the attack, the government also demonstrated a firm commitment to combating terrorism through rapid military action, a zero-tolerance policy, extensive counterterrorism operations, swift judicial proceedings, and technology-driven surveillance. These measures played a significant role in preserving Japan's confidence. A Clearer Picture The Tragedy and Japan's Remarkable Decision Despite the extensive security precautions, the horrific terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan occurred on the night of July 1, 2016. Twenty hostages—both Bangladeshi and foreign nationals—were killed. Of them, 17 were foreigners: nine Italians, seven Japanese specialists working on Metro Rail Line-6, and one Indian citizen. Assistant Commissioner of Detective Branch Police Robiul Karim and Banani Police Station Officer-in-Charge Salahuddin Ahmed also lost their lives while attempting to rescue the hostages. Including the five attackers who were killed during the operation, the total death toll reached 29. At the time, many in the international community believed that Japan would withdraw its investments and development assistance after losing seven senior specialists in a single incident. Instead, Japan surprised many observers by adopting the opposite stance. It declared that it would not surrender to terrorism and continued supporting Bangladesh's major infrastructure projects, including the Metro Rail and the Matarbari Deep Sea Port. Why Did Japan Continue to Trust Sheikh Hasina? After carefully reviewing the events, the Japanese government concluded that Sheikh Hasina's administration had established a comprehensive, multi-layered security framework immediately after receiving intelligence about a possible terrorist attack. Even on the night of the attack, the Officer-in-Charge of Banani Police Station left his own jurisdiction to respond to the emergency in Gulshan, ultimately sacrificing his life. This, in Japan's view, demonstrated the seriousness with which the government treated the threat. The tragedy itself was beyond the government's control, but Japan's assessment was that there had been no lack of determination or commitment in confronting terrorism. Several immediate and long-term measures taken by the government reinforced Japan's confidence: • Operation Thunderbolt: In the early hours of July 2, the Bangladesh Army's 1st Para-Commando Battalion led a swift and successful joint operation to rescue the hostages and neutralize the attackers. • Zero-Tolerance Policy: The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of the Bangladesh Police, together with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), conducted more than a thousand nationwide operations that dismantled the network of the "New JMB" militant organization. • Swift Judicial Process: By November 2019, the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka had sentenced seven militants to death—a verdict later commuted by the High Court to life imprisonment. • Technology-Based Surveillance: Bangladesh significantly strengthened cyber monitoring and internet surveillance capabilities to prevent the spread of violent extremism online. Conclusion International relations are not shaped solely by changes in government. Long-term trust, crisis management, and strategic partnerships often carry greater weight. Recent developments suggest to many observers that Japan may still regard Sheikh Hasina as a familiar and reliable strategic partner. Whether that perception is ultimately accurate will become clearer with time and through future diplomatic developments.

Author: Niharika Roy Political Analyst and Columnist