Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has returned to Dhaka after wrapping up a four-day official visit to Japan. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, boost investment and expand trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin said the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:48am today, Friday.
He added that the flight had left Narita International Airport in Tokyo for Dhaka at 10:55pm Japan time on Thursday.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP acting secretary general and adviser to the Prime Minister Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli were at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister.
Tarique Rahman was in Japan from 26 to 29 October at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
During the visit, he held high-level bilateral talks, met Japanese political and business leaders and toured several key industrial and energy facilities.
At the summit between the two leaders at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office on 27 October, discussions covered expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy security, infrastructure, technology, space research and various regional and international issues.
A proposal for one trillion Japanese yen (about $6.3 billion) in private investment in Bangladesh’s energy, infrastructure and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors was also discussed. There was also talk of sending a Japanese delegation to Bangladesh to speed up implementation of the investment plans.
Six bilateral documents were signed between the two countries during the visit.
In addition, commitments were secured for two ‘yen loan’ projects totalling 46.56 billion Japanese yen (about $295.5 million).
One of the agreements signed covers grant assistance of up to 2.12 billion Japanese yen ($13.44 million) to buy a patrol vessel to boost coastal security capacity.
The two countries signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation in improving the business environment, agriculture, employment programmes through skills development, and the fisheries and livestock sector. A letter of intent on cooperation on climate change was also signed.
The two loan projects will support improving Bangladesh’s investment climate and implementing the second phase of the ‘Upazila Governance and Development Project’.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said that, beyond the government-level agreements, 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between various private sector companies at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
On 28 October, the Prime Minister addressed the ‘Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum Dialogue’ at JETRO headquarters in Tokyo.
There, he urged Japanese companies to invest in five priority sectors of Bangladesh: automobile manufacturing, energy, technology and space, high-speed rail and logistics, and agro-processing.
Tarique Rahman also pledged the government’s necessary support and reforms to improve the business climate. During the visit, he also met Japanese political leaders, development partners and business leaders.
Among them were former prime minister Taro Aso, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr Akihiko Tanaka, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Kazuhiko Amakawa and JETRO President Susumu Kataoka.
At a meeting with representatives of major Japanese companies, including garment giant Uniqlo, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo Corporation and JERA, the Prime Minister discussed opportunities for more investment, setting up factories, creating jobs, technology transfer and skills development.
On 27 October, to see Japan’s energy and logistics infrastructure first-hand, he visited JERA’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and power plant in Futtsu and the Nittsu logistics hub in Ichikawa.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister went to Nagoya and toured Toyota Motor Corporation’s Motomachi plant and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, where he saw Japan’s car manufacturing capability at first hand.
The visit came at a time when Bangladesh and Japan have moved to broaden their economic ties.
The report noted that the two countries’ first Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will provide a new framework for strengthening trade and commercial relations.
Japan has been one of Bangladesh’s main development partners for many years.
It has supported major infrastructure projects such as the Dhaka Metro Rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the Matarbari deep sea port.
Background
According to a Jago News 24 report of 25 October, former president Ziaur Rahman visited Japan in 1978 and 1980, and former prime minister Khaleda Zia in 1994 and 2005.
By the numbers
The joint statement issued after the summit projected Japanese investment in Bangladesh of up to $6.34 billion over the next five years, Jago News 24 reported on 27 October.
At a glance
A Daily Sun report of 28 October said the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was signed in February 2026; speedy implementation of the agreement also came up at the summit.
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
Background sources: Jago News 24, 25 October 2026; Jago News 24, 27 October 2026; Daily Sun, 28 October 2026
