The remains of 18 Japanese soldiers who died during World War II and were buried at the Chattogram War Cemetery have been exhumed and returned to Japan.
A 10-member Japanese government–appointed delegation conducted the exhumation between November 17 and 28, with support from the Bangladesh Army’s Chattogram Area, the interim government, and military authorities.
The operation was technically supervised by Lt Col (Retd) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, Bir Protik, a freedom fighter and excavation specialist, the ISPR said in a press release on Monday.
On November 28, the Bangladesh Army accorded a Guard of Honour before the remains were formally flown back to Japan with full military protocol.
This is the second such operation in Bangladesh. In 2024, remains of 23 Japanese soldiers were exhumed from the Mainamati War Cemetery in Cumilla and repatriated based on a request from the Japanese government.
Officials noted that these exhumations reflect ongoing cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan in preserving wartime history and honouring fallen soldiers.