Dhaka, Sep 6 (IANS): Bangladesh has withdrawn its candidature for a rotational UN Security Council seat in favour of Japan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced.

The announcement came at a joint briefing with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe Saturday, bdnews24.com reported.

In a first visit to Bangladesh by any Japanese prime minister in 14 years, Abe arrived in Dhaka around 1 p.m. Saturday.

Bangladesh and Japan were the two contenders for a non-permanent seat for 2016-2017.

But only one will be elected from the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan has long been trying to lure Bangladesh for its support for Tokyo's candidature.

Hasina, during her Tokyo visit in May this year, told Japanese media that Japanese people would definitely get "good news" during Abe's visit to Dhaka.

"I will have to go back and discuss the matter with my cabinet colleagues. But we will definitely value the friendship with Japan," Hasina said during her Japan visit.

"We always remember with gratitude the Japanese support. Japan is our tested friend and Bangladesh is ready to make any sacrifice for the tested friend," she added.

During that visit, Abe promised $6 billion development assistance for Bangladesh over the next four to five years.