Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will pay an official visit to Japan from October 26 to 29 at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi to strengthen bilateral ties and expand economic cooperation.
The governments of Bangladesh and Japan formally announced the visit simultaneously on Tuesday, reports BSS.
“During the visit, the prime minister will hold high-level bilateral talks with Takaichi at her office on 27 October,” Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam told journalists at a curtain raiser media briefing at the Foreign Ministry here.
The Japanese premier will also host a luncheon in his honour, he added.
The foreign secretary said that the visit is expected to deepen the existing strategic partnership, attract fresh Japanese investment, expand trade and accelerate ongoing development projects.
Discussions will focus on the effective implementation of the 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 explore wider cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development and human resource development.
The prime minister is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders.
His tentative programme includes engagements with the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.
Meetings are also being planned with the president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the chairman of Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
The proposed itinerary includes visits to an LNG terminal and power plant in Futtsu City, Chiba, the headquarters of UNIQLO and a Toyota factory in Nagoya.
Announcements concerning memoranda of understanding or cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills enhancement, civil aviation, trade, environmental conservation and local government modernisation may be made during the visit, said the foreign secretary.
Detailed discussions are planned on Japanese support for establishing factories in Bangladesh, generating employment and developing human resources in line with the Prime Minister’s priorities.
Beyond bilateral matters, the two sides are expected to discuss regional and international peace and stability, a sustainable and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis and stronger cooperation in addressing the energy crisis.
The prime minister will be accompanied by his spouse, Dr Zubaida Rahman, ministers, advisers, senior government officials and other delegation members.
The delegation will travel on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights.
Japan, one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh following independence, remains a major development partner, supporting infrastructure, human resource development and capacity building.
Its cooperation includes major projects such as the metro rail, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s Third Terminal and infrastructure development in Matarbari.
