Dhaka, March 28 -- Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus visited Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture, an innovation-driven city near Tokyo, on Friday.

Mayor Masahiro Hashimoto warmly welcomed Prof Yunus and said he has been leading efforts to transform Sakai into a model "3.0 Smart City," inspired by Professor Yunus' vision of three zeros.

Sakai is known for pioneering initiatives such as autonomous driving technologies and the "hometown tax" system, which allows residents in major cities like Tokyo to allocate part of their taxes to their hometown, supporting local development.

During the visit, Prof Yunus spent time at a local elementary school, interacting with students.

The visit included a touching moment with the national anthem of Banglades...