Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Japan on October 26 for a four-day official trip. Dhaka and Tokyo are currently working to finalise a manpower agreement, which could emerge as one of the key outcomes of his first bilateral visit to the country.
The October 26-29 visit will take place at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to Foreign Ministry and diplomatic sources.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks in Tokyo, while Tarique is also expected to meet Emperor Naruhito.
The dates and planned visit were also reported by multiple diplomatic sources on Tuesday.
Officials stated that manpower exports, Japanese investment, trade, and energy cooperation are expected to feature prominently in the talks as the two nations seek to deepen their Strategic Partnership.
Several memorandums of understanding and agreements are being discussed ahead of the visit, diplomatic sources said.
Among them, a memorandum of understanding concerning the dispatch of Bangladeshi workers to Japan is currently at an advanced stage of negotiations and could potentially be signed during the prime minister’s visit, provided both sides reach a final agreement.
The manpower issue lends particular significance to the visit as Bangladesh seeks to expand its access to Japan’s labour market, which faces a growing demand for foreign workers in Tokyo.
Japan announced last year that it planned to recruit at least 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over a period of five years.
Bangladesh and Japan signed two memorandums of understanding in Tokyo in May 2025 with the objective of developing skilled manpower for the Japanese market.
Since that time, Dhaka has sought to accelerate recruitment through the expansion of Japanese-language and technical training, alongside addressing the procedural barriers that face Bangladeshi workers.
The government has also established a dedicated Japan Cell under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Bangladesh plans to send 100,000 workers to Japan annually to meet Japanese demand, according to the ministry. These opportunities will primarily fall under the Technical Intern Training Programme, the Specified Skilled Worker scheme, and professional employment categories.
Tarique himself has made expansion of the Japanese labour market a priority.
During a meeting with a special adviser to the Japanese prime minister in July, he urged Tokyo to recruit more skilled Bangladeshi workers and sought greater Japanese cooperation in skills development and investment.
The upcoming visit is therefore expected to review progress on those initiatives and explore ways to translate existing commitments into greater numbers of Bangladeshi workers entering Japan.
The invitation for Tarique to visit Japan was formally conveyed on behalf of Takaichi during recent high-level exchanges between the two governments.
During bilateral consultations, the Japanese side reiterated the invitation, while Bangladesh invited Takaichi to visit Dhaka at a mutually convenient time.
Foreign Ministry officials said the two prime ministers would discuss ways to expand economic cooperation, with Bangladesh particularly interested in attracting further Japanese investment.
Japan already serves as a major development partner for Bangladesh and has engaged in large infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, both nations have increasingly sought to transition their relationship beyond traditional development assistance to encompass trade, investment, skills, and strategic cooperation.
Why it matters
The visit aims to secure a manpower agreement that will help Bangladesh meet Japan’s demand for 100,000 workers annually, strengthening bilateral economic ties.