PM Arrives in Tokyo for Four-Day Official Visit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo on Monday morning (local time) for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening Bangladesh-Japan relations, attracting fresh investment and expanding trade and development cooperation.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his delegation landed at Narita International Airport at 9:07am local time. Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone welcomed him at the airport before a motorcade escorted him to the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, where he will stay during the visit.

Prime Minister’s Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Foreign Employment in the Asia-Pacific region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo were also present.

The prime minister departed Dhaka early Monday aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by a small delegation.

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her office on October 27. The meeting will be followed by a joint press announcement and a luncheon hosted by the Japanese premier.

During his four-day stay, Tarique Rahman is also expected to meet Japanese government officials, development partners and business leaders, visit industrial and energy facilities, and deliver the keynote address at the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum.

The visit is expected to strengthen the existing strategic partnership, attract new Japanese investment, increase bilateral trade and accelerate ongoing development projects, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said at a media briefing at the Foreign Ministry on October 20.

A key focus of the discussions will be the effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, with particular emphasis on expanding access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market and deepening commercial engagement.

The two countries will also explore broader cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development and human resource development.

According to the foreign secretary, the prime minister's tentative schedule includes meetings with the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.

Meetings are also being 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.

The proposed itinerary includes visits to an LNG terminal and a power plant in Futtsu City, Chiba, the headquarters of UNIQLO and a Toyota factory in Nagoya.

The two sides are discussing draft memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements covering agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills enhancement, civil aviation, trade, environmental conservation and local government modernisation.

"We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit," the foreign secretary said.

Around eight MoUs are currently under consideration, with three to four expected to be signed during the visit. Separate agreements on education and human resource development are also being pursued.

Detailed discussions are planned on Japanese support for establishing factories in Bangladesh, creating employment opportunities and developing a skilled workforce in line with the prime minister's priorities.

Regional and international issues will also feature in the talks, including peace and stability, a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, stronger cooperation to address energy challenges and efforts to resolve international conflicts.

The visit follows the prime minister's participation in an online meeting in April at the invitation of the Japanese premier, during which Bangladesh welcomed a Japan-led initiative to address energy challenges across Asia.

Japan has been a key development partner of Bangladesh since diplomatic relations were established in 1972. Japanese assistance has contributed to major infrastructure projects, including the Dhaka metro rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and infrastructure development in Matarbari.

Among Bangladesh's previous leaders, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman visited Japan in 1978 and 1980, while former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia travelled to the country in 1994 and 2005.