Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday. The meeting aims to strengthen the strategic partnership, increase trade and investment, and expand cooperation in key sectors between Bangladesh and Japan.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:45 am local time at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, known as the Kantei. The discussions will follow a guard of honour given to Tarique Rahman, which is set to take place from 11:30 am to 11:40 am.

The two leaders will hold talks until 12:10 p.m., which will be followed by a joint press announcement from 12:15 p.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Takaichi will host a luncheon for the Bangladesh Prime Minister from 12:30 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.

At the beginning of the lunch, she is scheduled to deliver a brief welcome remark and propose a toast, followed by a short reply and return toast from Tarique Rahman.

According to Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin, the two leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral relations, expanding business, trade and investment, Japanese cooperation in various sectors and international issues.

Speaking at a curtain-raiser press conference in Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam stated that the Prime Minister’s four-day visit is expected to open new avenues for bilateral cooperation and attract fresh Japanese private investment in Bangladesh.

He stated that the discussions would center on the effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was signed in February 2026. The talks will also focus on expanding access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market and strengthening business engagement.

The two sides are also expected to explore cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development, and human resource development.

Siam said several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are being discussed for signing during the visit. Draft agreements cover agriculture, fisheries, human resource and skills development, domestic aviation, trade, environmental conservation and the modernisation of local government.

“We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,” he said.

During the visit, Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders.

The prime minister reached Tokyo on Monday morning on a four-day visit at the invitation of Takaichi.

He was received at Narita International Airport by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone Yasutaka.

Tarique Rahman is heading a high-level delegation that includes Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, and Prime Minister's Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad.

Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Foreign Secretary Siam, Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are among other delegation members.

Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General and Nezame Islam Party acting Secretary General Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, and Am Janata Dal General Secretary Md Tarek Rahman are also accompanying the Prime Minister.

This marks Tarique’s third state visit abroad since assuming office on February 17. He previously conducted state visits to Malaysia and China, and travelled to New York in September for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Why it matters

The summit focuses on implementing the February 2026 Economic Partnership Agreement and expanding Bangladeshi market access in Japan.