Dhaka, March 25 -- Japan will provide some US$582 million worth of loans for Bangladesh's energy-and food-safety improvements, officials said, at a time when the country's foreign-currency reserves need replenishment.

The assistance comes under Japan's 45th overseas development assistance (ODA) package for which Bangladesh government and the lender signed two separate loan deals Tuesday in Dhaka.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh, and SAIDA Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, and ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office, inked the loan agreements and exchange of notes.

Japanese lender JICA would provide $388 million (JPY 57,12...