Bangladesh–Japan relations securing markets for their finished goods. In 2001, there were about 9,500 Bangladeshis in Japan. Japan recognized the People's Republic of Bangladesh on February 10, 1972, soon after its independence. Both parties celebrated thirty years of relations in 2002. Seven Japanese nationals died in the 1 July 2016 Dhaka Attacks by Islamist militants. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said "I feel profound anger that so many innocent people have lost their lives in the cruel and nefarious terrorism." Bangladesh–Japan relations Bangladesh–Japan relations (, ) were established on 10 February 1972. By 2015, the bilateral annual trade of these two countries
2014 Japanese general election re-appointed). The turnout in this election is the lowest in Japanese history. In 2012, the Democratic Party government under Yoshihiko Noda decided to implement a raise of the Japanese consumption tax. Following this move, the Liberal Democratic Party under Shinzo Abe regained control of the Japanese government in the December 2012 general election. Abe proceeded to implement a series of economic programs known as "Abenomics" in a bid to stimulate the economy. Despite these programs, Japan entered a technical recession in mid-2014, which Abe blamed on the consumption tax hike, even though many members of the LDP supported the hike.