Bangladesh, Japan eye wider cooperation; PM-level talks in Tokyo on Oct 27

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, are set to hold bilateral talks in Tokyo on October 27 to strengthen their “strategic partnership”, deepen economic ties and increase investment.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam on Tuesday (20 October) briefed reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on various aspects of the upcoming four-day visit.

“It is expected that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan will be further strengthened. New doors will open in the relationship, and fresh private investment will come to Bangladesh from Japan,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his spouse, Dr Zubaida Rahman, will pay an “official working” visit to Japan from October 26 to 29.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit.

“This visit of Prime Minister Rahman is expected to further strengthen the ‘strategic partnership’ between Japan and Bangladesh, a key regional partner that shares values and principles such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and enhance coordination towards realising the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” a spokesperson for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

Japanese companies are expected to use the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to announce fresh investments or plans to establish new offices in Bangladesh, a diplomatic source told UNB, adding that Japanese companies continued operating in Bangladesh even during the challenging period and had not withdrawn from the market.

Several companies are reportedly preparing to announce their commitments to Bangladesh during the visit.

Foreign Secretary Siam said both sides are discussing the signing of several MoUs during the visit.

Draft MoUs on agriculture, fisheries, human resource development and skills development, domestic aviation, trade, environmental conservation, and the modernisation of local government are currently under discussion.

“We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, who is set to become the next Foreign Secretary, Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim, and Chief of Protocol AFM Zahid-Ul-Islam were also present at the media briefing.

Earlier, Japan invited the Prime Minister to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time, reaffirming Tokyo’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka.

In April, Bangladesh welcomed a Japan-led initiative to address energy issues more efficiently across Asia, noting that countries needed to work together, as no single country could resolve the challenges alone.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined an online meeting at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister.

Siam also said the visit would create opportunities to accelerate and complete ongoing projects.

Commercial partnerships would be strengthened, the volume of economic and development assistance would increase, and security cooperation would continue, he said.

He said there was also potential for Japanese support in establishing factories in Bangladesh, creating employment opportunities and developing human resources.

Beyond bilateral relations, the two leaders would also discuss global issues.

“It is hoped that the two countries will initiate fruitful discussions on peace and stability in the regional and international arenas, a lasting and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, strengthening mutual cooperation to resolve the global energy crisis, and jointly playing a role in ending international conflicts,” the Foreign Secretary said.

Siam said relations between Bangladesh and Japan were long-standing, historic and friendly.

Japan was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh shortly after its independence and had made significant contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, infrastructure construction, human resource development and capacity building, he said.

“Our relationship has expanded and broadened beyond trade, investment and development cooperation to various fields, including science and technology, connectivity, the environment, and regional and sub-regional cooperation,” Siam said.

He described the current relationship between the two countries as a strategic partnership.

Under this framework, various cooperative activities, including infrastructure development in Bangladesh, technological advancement, human resource development and security cooperation, are ongoing.

“We hope these activities will further increase through this visit,” Siam said.

Against the backdrop of the existing strategic partnership, he said the upcoming visit offered a timely opportunity to deepen and broaden ties between the two countries.

In particular, the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan in February 2026 had opened up new possibilities for expanding trade and investment, he said.

The Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum.

He is also expected to visit the LNG terminal and power plant in Katsuura City, Chiba, UNIQLO Headquarters, and the Toyota plant in Nagoya, Japan.

Source: UNB