Dhaka, March 18 -- Japan was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh after independence, Suga recalled in a video message delivered on Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.

He also recalled Bangabandhu's 1973 tour of Japan when he visited farming and fishing villages in rural areas and interacted with many Japanese locals.

Bangabandhu considered the development of Japan as a model to follow and later made tremendous efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, according to Suga.

"I understand that it was the idea of Bangabandhu to design Bangladeshi national flag in a way that resembles the Japanese one, just like we are brothers," the Japanese premier said.

Japan has consistently backe...