United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned home from Tokyo early Friday, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Japan aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic and investment cooperation. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of his entourage, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 2:48am, said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani received Tarique Rahman at the airport.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Tokyo for Dhaka on Thursday night after a nearly five-hour delay due to a technical glitch in the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Japan. The flight took off from Narita International Airport in Tokyo at 10:55pm local time, following a pushback at 10:43pm, after Biman’s engineering team and Japanese technicians fixed the technical problem, according to the national flag carrier. The flight is now scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 3am on Friday, Biman said in a press release. The aircraft, which was scheduled to leave Tokyo at 6pm local time on Thursday, moved towards the runway around 6:18pm. It stopped before takeoff, and about 15 minutes later, Captain Md Imamul Islam announced that the flight could not proceed due to a technical problem. The Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of his entourage were on board the flight. The aircraft was subsequently taken back to the tarmac, and all passengers disembarked. Around 8pm local time, the pilot announced that it would take another two and a half hours to fix the problem. At around 9:50pm, he informed passengers that the technical glitch was resolved and that boarding would resume shortly. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat and a deputy managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines were present as the Biman engineering team and Japanese technicians completed the repair work. Speaking at the Tokyo airport around 10:15pm local time, the minister apologised for the suffering caused to passengers by the flight delay. He said the delay was caused by a technical glitch, which was completely fixed, and described the aircraft as safe to fly. Tarique arrived in Japan on October 26 on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. During the visit, he held a bilateral summit with Takaichi at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, where the two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, information and communication technology, railways, infrastructure and other areas. The Prime Minister also met chairmen, chief executive officers and senior officials of Japanese private companies and financial institutions to discuss ways to boost economic and trade ties and expand Japanese investment in Bangladesh. He also exchanged views with members of the Bangladeshi community living in Japan, sharing his plans for the country’s development and seeking their cooperation in building a better Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman also met Japanese political leaders, business representatives and development partners to explore opportunities for investment, technology transfer, employment generation and economic cooperation. He attended the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum, where he highlighted investment opportunities in Bangladesh and urged Japanese companies to expand their engagement in the country. During the visit, Bangladesh and Japan signed six cooperation instruments covering coastal security, economic relations, the investment climate, agriculture, skills development, fisheries, livestock and climate change. The two countries also pledged two loan projects worth a combined 46.56 billion yen, or about US$295.5 million, to support Bangladesh’s development. The projects include a 15.88 billion yen loan to improve the investment environment and a 30.68 billion yen loan for the Upazila Governance and Development Project (Phase 2). In addition, 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between private-sector entities at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), reflecting efforts to expand business ties and Japanese investment in Bangladesh. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said the visit is expected to further strengthen Bangladesh-Japan relations and open up new opportunities for trade, investment and development cooperation.

The technical glitch at the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft that delayed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s flight to Dhaka from Tokyo was fixed on Thursday night, and the flight is expected to leave Narita International Airport shortly. Captain Md Imamul Islam announced around 9:50pm local time that the problem was resolved and that passengers would start boarding the aircraft again soon. The Biman flight was scheduled to leave Tokyo at 6pm local time. The aircraft left its terminal around 6:18pm and moved to the runway for takeoff. However, it stopped before taking off, and about 15 minutes later, the captain announced that the flight could not proceed due to a technical problem. He said two engineers were working to resolve the issue. The aircraft was later taken back to the tarmac, and all passengers disembarked. Around 8pm local time, the captain announced that it would take another two and a half hours to fix the problem. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of his entourage were on board the aircraft. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, who is accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Japan, expressed sorry for the suffering caused to passengers by the flight delay. Speaking at the Tokyo airport around 10:15pm local time, he said the delay was caused by a technical glitch, which has completely been fixed. The minister said the aircraft is now safe to fly and will carry the Prime Minister and his entourage to Dhaka. The flight was originally scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:35pm Bangladesh time. Tarique arrived in Japan on October 26 on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s flight to Dhaka from Tokyo was delayed on Thursday after the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft developed a technical glitch shortly before takeoff from Narita International Airport. The aircraft left the airport terminal around 6:18pm local time and moved to the runway for takeoff. However, it stopped on the runway, and about 15 minutes later, Captain Md Imamul Islam announced that the flight could not proceed due to a technical problem. He said two engineers were working to resolve the issue and the flight would resume once the problem was fixed. The aircraft was later taken back to the tarmac. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of his entourage were on board the aircraft. Later, all passengers disembarked from the aircraft. Around 8pm local time, the captain made another announcement, saying it would take another two and a half hours to fix the technical problem. The Prime Minister was scheduled to leave Tokyo for Dhaka at 6pm local time, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Japan. The flight was originally scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:35pm Bangladesh time. Tarique arrived in Japan on October 26 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday visited Toyota Motor Corporation’s Motomachi plant in Nagoya as part of his four-day visit to Japan. During the visit, the Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, toured the factory and observed its vehicle assembly operations, said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. Masahiko Moeda, chief executive officer for South Asia at Toyota Motor Corporation; Shigeru Harada, CEO of the Mobility Division at Toyota Tsusho Corporation; and Shinichiro Otsuka, the company’s chief operating officer, were among the senior officials present during the visit. After the visit, the Prime Minister attended a luncheon hosted by Toyota and toured the company’s museum. The Prime Minister’s delegation also included Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Research Officer Md Abdus Satter Patuary.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called upon all Bangladeshis, including expatriates living abroad, to contribute to building a developed and better country with improved facilities for its people at home and overseas. “We are all Bangladeshis. Our first priority should be to do something for our country and do something better,” he said while exchanging views with Bangladeshi expatriates at a hotel in Tokyo. Tarique said a better Bangladesh will benefit its citizens whether they live in the country or overseas. He said the government wants people to work together towards the country’s progress, irrespective of their position or location. “So, wherever we are and whatever position we hold, if we believe that any work we do can bring something good for our country and its people, we should try to do it,” the Prime Minister said. He made the remarks while responding to a question from a Bangladeshi expatriate about the government’s plans for overseas Bangladeshis, including those involved in political activities abroad.

Japan is keen to increase investment in Bangladesh, viewing the country as an attractive investment destination, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akazawa Ryosei told Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday. During a meeting with the Prime Minister in Japan, Akazawa expressed his country’s interest in further developing bilateral relations and expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. Tarique thanked the Japanese government for its continued support and cooperation in building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. Both sides agreed to advance cooperation in areas discussed during the recent bilateral summit between Tarique and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and further strengthen bilateral relations. They also stressed the need to capitalise on the interest among Japanese business leaders in Bangladesh to attract more Japanese investment to the country.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday invited Japanese companies to invest in Bangladesh's priority sectors, including automotive manufacturing, energy, technology and space, and high-speed rail and logistics, promising government support and reforms to improve the business environment. Addressing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum Dialogue at JETRO headquarters in Tokyo, he said the two countries should take their long-standing relationship to a new level through trade and investment following the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Bangladesh’s first such agreement with any country. The dialogue was organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in cooperation with the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Co-operation (JBCCEC), with support from the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan. JETRO President Susumu Kataoka delivered the opening remarks, while Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shinji Wakayama addressed the event as a guest speaker. The programme also featured a memorandum of understanding (MoU) exchange and announcements of investment and cooperation projects. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has a market of more than 180 million people, a young workforce with a median age of 27 and a growing middle class. “The country is expected to become one of the world’s top 10 consumer economies by 2030,” he added. He said Bangladesh is expected to become the world’s ninth-largest consumer economy by 2030, while its annual GDP is projected to cross US$1 trillion by 2034, driven by a rising affluent middle class. Under the EPA signed between Bangladesh and Japan in February this year, Tarique said 7,379 Bangladeshi products will enjoy duty-free access to Japan, while Japanese goods, including steel, automotive parts and electronic components, will receive preferential access to Bangladesh. “Investors on both sides will benefit from recently simplified and progressive rules on investment, services and customs procedures.” He said Japanese automotive manufacturers, large retailers, agro machinery developers and many others are already taking steps to set up factories in the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar, pledging that the government will provide all the support in this regard. The Prime Minister said Japanese companies have raised three key concerns — reliable energy, efficient infrastructure, and predictable customs clearance and taxation — and that his government has already resolved some of them and is working to address the remaining issues. “I fully understand that businesses need certainty. Investors need confidence. Our job is creating the right environment to deliver both,” he said, adding that the government will provide every possible support for the initiative. Tarique said Bangladesh’s ambition is to transform the country into a global manufacturing hub. “By setting up factories in Bangladesh, you not only enjoy direct access to a large and growing domestic market but also benefit from efficient factors of production to export to the rest of the world,” he said. In the energy sector, the Prime Minister invited Japanese companies to explore Bangladesh’s future energy needs and participate in energy infrastructure, efficient power generation and renewable energy projects. He said Bangladesh is planning to establish a Bangladesh-Japan Technology Park focused on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics and electronics manufacturing, involving Japanese companies, universities and investors. Tarique also called for cooperation with Japanese institutions in space science, satellite engineering and related technologies to strengthen Bangladesh’s space capabilities. On rail and logistics, he said Bangladesh plans to develop a nationwide elevated high-speed rail network connecting six major divisional cities. The Prime Minister said the government plans to prepare a national master plan, assess passenger and freight demand, prioritise routes and conduct feasibility studies, inviting Japanese institutions to invest in the initiative.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sought Japan’s cooperation in diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket and expanding trade and investment opportunities as the two countries look to strengthen their economic partnership. He made the call during a meeting with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) President Susumu Kataoka in Tokyo at 11:45am local time, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. The Prime Minister also called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s special economic zones, particularly in advanced manufacturing, ICT, automobiles, renewable energy and agro-processing, as he sought stronger trade and economic ties between the two countries. He praised JETRO’s role in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh, saying new opportunities are emerging for Japanese companies in the country. Both sides agreed that the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will play an important role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. Tarique also called for Japanese support for skills development programmes and the establishment of Japanese language training centres in Bangladesh. He said such initiatives will help create employment opportunities in Japan and strengthen the long-term economic partnership between the two countries. JETRO President Susumu Kataoka said Bangladesh has strong investment potential because of its economic growth and geographical location. He said Japanese companies are already showing interest in doing business and investing in Bangladesh in response to various initiatives taken by the government under Tarique’s leadership.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday urged Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo to expand its investment in Bangladesh’s garment sector, particularly in man-made fibres, technical textiles and sustainable apparel, pledging government support for the expansion. The call came during a meeting with a delegation led by Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing Co Ltd, the parent company of Uniqlo, at 10:30am local time in Tokyo, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. Tarique praised Uniqlo’s trust in Bangladesh and its parent company’s longstanding business engagement with the country. The meeting discussed opportunities to increase investment in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry, with particular emphasis on man-made fibres, technical textiles and sustainable clothing production. They also discussed expanding cooperation in technology transfer, skills development, product innovation, advanced manufacturing systems and environment-friendly production processes. The Prime Minister said his government is ready to provide the necessary support to help Uniqlo expand its operations in Bangladesh. He also highlighted the government’s willingness to facilitate land arrangements, investment approvals and other necessary administrative clearances to support the company’s expansion.