On August 7, 2026, Saga University welcomed His Excellency Muhammad Daud Ali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Japan, and Mrs. Bushra Meherin Ali for a courtesy visit.
As of the 2026 academic year, 51 international students from Bangladesh are enrolled at Saga University, making Bangladesh the largest source country of international students at the university for the first time. The expansion of international student enrollment, particularly in the natural sciences, has been greatly supported by the longstanding efforts of Professor Khan Tawhidul Islam of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. A graduate of Saga University himself, Professor Khan has long served as a bridge between Japan and Bangladesh through his contributions to academic exchange and human resource development.
The courtesy visit was attended by President Koichi Node; Shigehisa Aoki, Executive Director for Research & Community Cooperation and International Affairs; Saliya De Silva, Deputy Director of the Center for Promotion of International Exchange; Kazuya Sato, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering; Akihiro Suzuki, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; and Professor Khan.
During the meeting, Saga University introduced its long-term vision, Saga University Vision 2040, which places “Wisdom in Action for a Shared Future” at its core. The university also presented initiatives aimed at fostering globally minded individuals and promoting international mutual benefit through the circulation of knowledge.
Ambassador Ali spoke about recent developments in Bangladesh, noting the rapid increase in the number of young people studying Japanese. He also discussed the possibility of sending to Japan students who have already received foundational education in both the Japanese language and their academic disciplines in Bangladesh.
The discussion also highlighted the outstanding research capabilities and contributions of Bangladeshi postdoctoral researchers currently working at Saga University. In addition, participants shared examples of Saga University graduates who, after joining food machinery manufacturers in Saga Prefecture, have introduced Japanese technologies in Bangladesh, including technologies used in the production of frozen fried rice. These examples underscored expectations for further deepening mutually beneficial international cooperation through collaboration among academia, research, and industry.
Following the courtesy visit, Ambassador Ali met with Bangladeshi international students enrolled at Saga University and their academic advisors. During the gathering, he offered words of encouragement to the students as they pursue their studies and research in Japan.
The students commented:
“We were given the valuable opportunity to speak directly with His Excellency the Ambassador. This gave us a deeper appreciation of the friendship between Bangladesh and Japan and reminded us once again of the important role we can play as international students in serving as a bridge between the two countries.” The visit provided a meaningful opportunity to deepen exchanges between Bangladesh and Saga University and to reaffirm the strong ties connecting the two countries.
Building on this visit, Saga University will continue to promote academic and human-resource exchanges with Bangladesh. Through nurturing individuals who connect local communities with the world, the university remains committed to accelerating the circulation of knowledge and fostering greater international mutual benefit.
【Contact】
Office for International Planning, Saga University (Yada, Kuroiwa)
TEL: 0952-28-8166
Email: kokusai@mail.admin.saga-u.ac.jp