Maria Howlader FCA, Secretary General, JBCCI highlighted the major activities of JBCCI undertaken during November 2025 to September 2026. In her remarks, Maria Howlader FCA, Secretary General of JBCCI, highlighted the Chamber’s significant progress during FY 2025–2026 and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Bangladesh–Japan economic relations. She noted that JBCCI’s membership had grown to 391 members and emphasized the Chamber’s active role in supporting the Bangladesh–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), policy advocacy, high-level government engagement, business networking, the Japan–Bangladesh Business Women Conference, investment promotion, and other sector-focused initiatives. Looking ahead, she recommended greater focus on EPA readiness, investor issue resolution, sector-specific business matching, regular Japan delegation initiatives, stronger member engagement, and increased participation of women entrepreneurs and young business leaders, while expressing confidence that the incoming Board would continue to advance JBCCI’s role in promoting trade, investment, and friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.
Md. Jahangir Alam Sharker CPA, Joint Treasurer, JBCCI presented the audited Annual Financial Report and highlighted key financial highlights to the audience to show that despite organizing various programs and activities, JBCCI still maintained sustainable financial growth in this term. He emphasized, JBCCI’s financial management remained focused on transparency, accountability and prudent stewardship.
Board Members proposed to appoint “Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants” to be the Auditor for FY 2026-2027.
The participants appreciated JBCCI for arranging seminar, Japan Delegation, MoUs with different organizations to increase facility for its members, round table discussion, networking, meeting with government & other organizations on different issues being implemented during November 2025 to September 2026. Officials of the Embassy of Japan also participated in the event.
Following that AZM Azizur Rahman, Acting Chairman, Election Board of JBCCI officially introduced the new Board of Directors of JBCCI for the term Oct 2026-Sep 2028 who were elected on September 23, 2026.
The names of the New Board Members are: SName of Candidate Position Kazuiki Kataoka President Abu Zaman Md. Tariqul Islam Vice President 1 Syed Samiul Huq Vice-President 2 Rabiul Alam Secretary-General Kenji Kimura Treasurer Oliver Kutz Joint Secretary-General Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi Joint Treasurer Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) Director Hiroaki Oura Director Kabir Ahmed Director Atsushi Hirakuri Director AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU Director Kenichiro Kawamoto Director Farzanah Chowdhury Director Hironori Yamanaka Director Mudassir Murtaza Moin Director
Lastly, he introduced Manabu Sugawara and Abdul Haque who have been appointed as the Advisors to The Board.
Rabiul Alam, newly elected Secretary General and Kazuiki Kataoka, newly elected President of JBCCI delivered short speech sharing their wishes for taking initiatives which will make JBCCI more vibrant Bilateral Chamber of Bangladesh. Rabiul Alam added that as Japan-Bangladesh relation is evolving towards increased trade and investment, this incoming JBCCI Board will continue to work on the strong foundations built by our predecessors and will aim to take this chamber to bigger, better and newer heights.
In his address, Kazuiki Kataoka, President-Elect of JBCCI, expressed his sincere appreciation to the outgoing President, Secretary General, Board members, and the wider JBCCI membership for their dedicated leadership and contributions to the Chamber. He particularly acknowledged the important role of Bangladeshi member companies in strengthening business engagement with Japanese companies.
Looking ahead to his tenure, Kataoka outlined two key priorities. First, he emphasized the importance of further highlighting Japan’s longstanding contributions to Bangladesh through trade, investment, infrastructure development, and business activities. Second, he stressed the need to better utilize the extensive knowledge and expertise available within JBCCI’s nearly 400 member companies through seminars, knowledge-sharing sessions, networking opportunities, and other member-driven initiatives.
He reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the value, visibility, and activities of JBCCI while maintaining the high professional standards expected of one of Bangladesh’s leading bilateral chambers. He concluded by calling for the continued cooperation of all members to further strengthen the economic and business relationship between Japan and Bangladesh over the coming years.
This symbolic transition marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new phase in JBCCI’s journey. The new board committed to upholding the organization’s values and promises, and to continuing to drive its objectives forward with a fresh perspective, renewed commitment, and strong vision for the future.
