The process of exhuming and repatriating the remains of 18 Japanese soldiers buried at the Chittagong War Cemetery during WW II has been successfully completed.
A 10-member expert delegation, nominated by the Government of Japan, stayed in Chattogram from November 17 to 28 to carry out the exhumation work. Under the directive of Interim Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Chattogram Area of Bangladesh Army provided necessary security and administrative support throughout the process. The overall supervision and technical leadership of the excavation were conducted by freedom fighter and excavation specialist Lieutenant Colonel Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir (retd), Bir Protik.
Upon completion of the exhumation, a contingent of Bangladesh Army accorded a Guard of Honour with full military honour on November 28. Subsequently, the remains were formally repatriated to Japan. It is noteworthy that in 2024, at the request of Government of Japan, the remains of 23 deceased Japanese soldiers during WW II were similarly exhumed and repatriated from Mainamati War Cemetery in Comilla.
