PM leaves Tokyo for Dhaka after nearly five-hour delay

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Tokyo for Dhaka on Thursday night after a delay of four hours and 44 minutes due to a technical glitch in the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Japan.

The flight departed from Narita International Airport at 10:44pm local time after engineers fixed the technical problem that prevented the aircraft from taking off earlier in the evening, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

The aircraft, which was scheduled to leave Tokyo at 6pm local time, 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 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 while two engineers worked to resolve the issue.

Around 8pm local time, the captain announced that it would take another two and a half hours to fix the problem. Around 9:50pm, he informed passengers that the technical glitch was resolved and that boarding would resume shortly.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, who accompanied the prime minister on his visit to Japan, expressed regret 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 was completely fixed. He also described the aircraft as safe to fly.

Tarique arrived in Japan on 26 October 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 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 $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.