Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to hold a bilateral summit with his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, in Tokyo on Tuesday to strengthen the strategic partnership, boost trade and investment, and expand cooperation in key sectors between Bangladesh and Japan.
The meeting will begin at 11:45am local time at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, known as the Kantei, following a guard of honour to be given to Tarique Rahman from 11:30am to 11:40am.
The two leaders will hold talks until 12:10pm, followed by a joint press announcement from 12:15pm to 12:25pm.
Takaichi will then host a luncheon for the Bangladesh Prime Minister from 12:30pm to 1:10pm.
At the beginning of the lunch, she is scheduled to deliver a brief welcome remark and propose a toast, followed by a short reply and return toast from Tarique Rahman.
According to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin, the two leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral relations, expanding business, trade and investment, Japanese cooperation in various sectors and international issues.
At a curtain-raiser press conference back in Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the Prime Minister’s four-day visit is expected to open new avenues for bilateral cooperation and attract fresh Japanese private investment in Bangladesh.
He said the talks would focus on the 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 are also expected to explore cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development and human resource development.
Siam said several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are being discussed for signing during the visit. Draft agreements cover agriculture, fisheries, human resource and skills development, domestic aviation, trade, environmental conservation and the modernisation of local government.
“We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,” he said.
During the visit, Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders.
The Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo on Monday morning on a four-day visit at the invitation of Takaichi.
He was received at Narita International Airport by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone Yasutaka.
Tarique Rahman is leading a high-level delegation that includes Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad.
Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Foreign Secretary Siam, Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are among other delegation members.
Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General and Nezame Islam Party acting Secretary General Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, and Am Janata Dal General Secretary Md Tarek Rahman are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
This is Tarique’s third state visit abroad since taking office on February 17 this year. He previously made state visits to Malaysia and China, and travelled to New York, the United States, in September to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.