Bangladesh, Oct. 19 -- Bangladesh is seeking Japanese financial and infrastructure support to turn Matarbari into a regional industrial and trade hub, with the proposed deep-sea port expected to strengthen links with India's north-eastern states and neighbouring countries ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's anticipated visit to Japan later this month.

Japanese diplomats envision an industrial value chain linking the Bay of Bengal with north-eastern India and South-east Asia through Bangladesh, potentially expanding the country's role in regional trade, manufacturing and logistics.

"The Matarbari Port holds the potential to transform Bangladesh into a regional industrial hub," a senior Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official ...