Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Japan today on a four-day state visit at the invitation of the country’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his entourage landed at Narita International Airport at 9:05am local time (6:05am Bangladesh time).
Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone Yasutaka received the prime minister at the airport.
Also present were Rehan Asif Asad, the prime minister’s adviser on posts, telecommunications and ICT and on science and technology; Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, special assistant on overseas employment for the Asia Pacific region; and senior officials of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo.
The prime minister left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with a small delegation on a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 12:10am Bangladesh time on Sunday.
The prime minister’s press wing had said earlier that on the day of arrival Tarique Rahman would hold a high-level bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi at her office. A joint press statement and a luncheon hosted by the Japanese prime minister are scheduled to follow.
Over the four days, the prime minister will meet Japanese government officials, development agencies and business leaders. Besides visiting several industrial and energy facilities, he will deliver the keynote at the ‘Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum’.
At a press conference at the foreign ministry on 20 October, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the visit is expected to further strengthen the existing strategic partnership, open new investment opportunities, increase trade and give momentum to ongoing development projects.
The talks will focus on effective implementation of the ‘Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement’ (EPA) signed in February 2026, expanding access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market and strengthening business engagement.
The two sides will also discuss prospects for wider cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development and human resource development. The prime minister is also scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders.
The itinerary includes meetings with the ‘Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League’ and the chairman of the ‘Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Co-operation’. The foreign secretary said meetings are also planned with the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the president of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
In the foreign secretary’s words, ‘We hope several memoranda of understanding will be signed during this visit.’
In line with the prime minister’s priorities, detailed discussions are also planned on Japanese support for setting up factories, creating jobs and developing human resources in Bangladesh.
Regional and international peace and stability, a sustainable and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis, cooperation in tackling the energy crisis and efforts to resolve international conflicts may also come up in the talks.
The prime minister is accompanied by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit, and Telecommunications and ICT Adviser Rehan Asif Asad.
The delegation also includes Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman, Special Assistant on Overseas Employment for the Asia Pacific region Shakirul Islam Khan, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky.
The prime minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon is also part of the entourage.
Japan has been one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972. Several major projects, including the Dhaka Metro Rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and infrastructure development in Matarbari, are progressing with Japanese assistance.
Martyred President Ziaur Rahman visited Japan in 1978 and 1980. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia visited the country in 1994 and 2005.
Background
According to a Risingbd report of 6 February, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii Iwao signed the EPA in Tokyo that day; it is Bangladesh’s first economic partnership agreement with any country.
By the numbers
According to Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Japan has granted duty-free access to its market for 7,079 Bangladeshi products under the EPA, while 1,039 Japanese products will enter Bangladesh duty-free, Ittefaq reported on 9 February.
Risingbd’s 6 February report had put the number of Bangladeshi products getting duty-free access at about 7,379; the figures differ between sources.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: Risingbd, 6 February 2026; Ittefaq, 9 February 2026
