PM returns home after four-day Japan visit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was scheduled to return home in early hours today after a four-day official visit to Japan, during which the two countries signed six government-level cooperation instruments, Japan pledged two yen loans worth 46.56 billion yen (about US$295.5 million), and the two leaders discussed a proposed private investment of one trillion yen ($6.3 billion) in Bangladesh.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the prime minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage left Narita International Airport on Thursday at 10.44pm local time, Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin said, reports BSS.
The visit was made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. It included high-level talks, the signing of agreements, discussions with Japanese business leaders and tours of industrial and energy facilities.
At their summit at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office on 27 October, Tarique Rahman and Takaichi discussed trade, investment, energy security, infrastructure, technology, space research, and regional and international affairs. 
They also discussed the proposed one-trillion-yen private investment in Bangladesh's energy, infrastructure and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors, and the possibility of sending a Japanese team to Dhaka to expedite the plan.
Among the six government-level instruments was a grant agreement of up to 2.12 billion yen ($13.44 million) for a patrol vessel to strengthen Bangladesh's coastal security. 
The two sides also signed memorandums of cooperation on improving the business environment, agriculture, the Employment for Skill Development Programme, and fisheries and livestock, along with a letter of intent on climate change cooperation.
The two yen-loan projects will support improvement of the investment environment and the second phase of the Upazila Governance and Development Project.
Separately, 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between private-sector entities at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said.
Addressing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum Dialogue at JETRO headquarters in Tokyo on October 28, the prime minister invited Japanese companies to invest in five priority areas: automotive manufacturing, energy, technology and space, high-speed rail and logistics, and agro-processing. He pledged government support and reforms to improve the business environment.
He also met former prime minister Taro Aso, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr Akihiko Tanaka, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Kazuhiko Amakawa and JETRO President Susumu Kataoka. In meetings with Uniqlo, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo Corporation and JERA, he explored opportunities for investment, factories, job creation, technology transfer and skills development.
On 27 October, the prime minister visited JERA's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and power plant in Futtsu and the Nittsu Logistics Hub in Ichikawa. 
On Thursday, he travelled to Nagoya, where he toured Toyota Motor Corporation's Motomachi factory with his wife and observed the vehicle assembly process. 
Toyota officials, including Toyota Motor Corporation CEO for South Asia Masahiko Maeda, were present. He also visited the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology.
During the factory visit, Toyota officials invited the couple to sit in a replica of the Toyoda Model AA, the company's first production passenger car, built in 1936 after the Model A1 prototype of 1935.
The visit follows the signing of the first-ever Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in February 2026. 
Japan has long been one of Bangladesh's major development partners, supporting projects including the Dhaka metro rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the Matarbari deep-sea port.