Prime Minister Tarique Rahman departed Dhaka late Sunday night for a four-day official visit to Japan, accepting an invitation from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The high-profile tour is aimed at bolstering bilateral ties, increasing mutual investments, and expanding trade and development cooperation between the two friendly nations. According to the Prime Minister's Press Wing, a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Zubaida Rahman, and members of his entourage took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:10 AM Sunday night. The flight is scheduled to land at Narita International Airport at 9:25 AM local time.
Upon arriving at Narita International Airport, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will immediately engage in a series of high-level diplomatic engagements. On the very first day of his visit, he is scheduled to hold a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her office. The discussions are expected to encompass regional and international issues of mutual interest, alongside ways to deepen economic partnership. Following the meeting, a joint press statement will be published, followed by a formal luncheon hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister in honor of the visiting Bangladeshi leader.
To see off the Prime Minister at the airport, several senior government officials and prominent political leaders were present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Those present to bid farewell included BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Chief Whip Nurul Islam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, and Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan. They extended their warm wishes as the Prime Minister embarked on his journey.
During this four-day diplomatic tour, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will interact not only with political leadership but also with representatives of major Japanese corporate houses, leading companies, and development organizations. He will visit various key industrial and energy installations in Japan. Furthermore, as part of his business engagements, he will deliver the keynote address at the prestigious 'Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum,' where he is expected to highlight Bangladesh's economic potential and invite Japanese investors to explore opportunities in specialized economic zones.
Analysts believe that this high-level engagement with an economic powerhouse like Japan will serve as a milestone in attracting foreign investment, boosting infrastructure development, and enhancing technological collaboration for Bangladesh. Japan has long been a steadfast development partner, contributing significantly to major megaprojects through agencies like JICA. This visit is anticipated to propel bilateral cooperation to new heights and further strengthen Bangladesh's standing in international economic diplomacy.
