SM Najmus Sakib
26 October 2026•Update: 26 October 2026
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Japan on Monday for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, attracting investment and expanding development cooperation.
The visit is Rahman’s first to Japan since taking office earlier this year. He is leading a 15-member delegation at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Bangladesh is seeking to shift its relationship with development partners toward trade and investment, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir told reporters in Japan.
“The era of aid dependency has gone. Bangladesh also doesn’t want this aid dependent economy and it now emphasizes on partnership between countries,” he said.
Kabir said Bangladesh’s democratic transition following the 2024 uprising had generated international interest in partnerships, trade and investment.
Japan is Bangladesh’s largest bilateral development partner and a major export destination, with trade between the countries totaling around $4 billion.
The visit is expected to expand cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills training, trade and local government modernization, Kabir said.
On Monday, Rahman met representatives of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.
He also met the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry previously said the Rohingya refugee crisis and regional security could also feature in discussions.
AloJapan.com