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DHAKA, March 29, 2026 (BSS) - A two-day Young Scholar Conference on "Japan's 
Soft Diplomacy in South Asia: Change and Continuity" will begin tomorrow at Dhaka University.

The conference is jointly organized by the Japanese Studies Association in 
South Asia (JSASA) and the Department of Japanese Studies (DJS) of Dhaka 
University, in cooperation with the Japan Foundation. 

The conference has been scheduled to be held at 10 am at the Nabab Nawab Ali 
Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the University.

A total of 40 young scholars from Bangladesh, Japan, China, India, Nepal, and 
Sri Lanka are expected to participate. 

The conference will focus on Japan's diplomatic strategies and its regional 
engagement in South Asia.

Director General of Japan Foundation in South Asia, Sato Koji, who is 
attending the conference, earlier paid a courtesy visit to Dhaka University 
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam at his office. 

During the meeting, Professor Dr Obaidul Islam emphasized the importance of 
strengthening bilateral relations between Dhaka University and Japanese 
universities through educational cooperation, cultural exchanges, and joint 
academic and research programs.

DU Japanese Studies Department Chairman Professor Dr Md Jahangir Alam, JSASA 
Secretary General Professor Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, and other faculty members 
were also present at the meeting.