PM Tarique Rahman to visit Japan on October 26

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is going to Tokyo on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He is scheduled to leave Dhaka on October 26. Discussions may be held on further strengthening the relations between the two countries and various issues of mutual interest during this possible visit from October 26 to 29.

Diplomatic sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka have confirmed this information on Tuesday (October 6).

During the visit, Tarique Rahman will hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Discussions are scheduled to be held on various areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan at the meeting. Alongside, there is also a possibility of a meeting of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh with Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have informed that issues of increasing investment, expanding trade, energy cooperation and creating more opportunities in Japan’s labour market for Bangladeshi manpower may get importance in this visit of the Prime Minister. Concerned sources have informed that discussions will also be held on further expanding the economic and commercial relations of the two countries.

Discussions are ongoing between Dhaka and Tokyo on several memorandums of understanding and agreements ahead of the visit. Diplomatic sources have informed that the draft of a memorandum of understanding related to manpower export is almost at the final stage. If consent is received from both sides, it may be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Saleh Shibli has informed that the Prime Minister will visit Japan at the end of October and preparations are underway in this regard. However, he had not yet officially confirmed on which exact date he will leave Dhaka. On the other hand, sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have informed about the possibility of starting the visit on October 26.

The invitation for the Japan visit of the Prime Minister was conveyed to Bangladesh at the seventh Foreign Office Consultation meeting of Bangladesh and Japan held in Dhaka on August 12. At that meeting, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Hiroyuki Namazu conveyed the invitation of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. At the same time, an invitation to visit Japan was also extended to Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Khalilur Rahman as the president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

This possible visit of the Prime Minister is being viewed as an important initiative to further deepen the long-standing cooperative relations of the two countries. Those concerned think that the opportunity for discussions on new areas of bilateral relations will be created along with increasing cooperation in the infrastructure, investment, trade, energy and manpower sectors.