DHAKA — Bangladesh and Japan expect to sign more than four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Japan, The Business Standard (TBS) reported on Friday, October 23. Rahman is scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo during the visit, which runs from October 26 to 29.

Source: The Business Standard

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said Bangladesh was discussing around eight MoUs with Japan, of which three to four were expected to be signed during the visit, The Bangladesh Chronicle reported, citing Siam's press conference at the Foreign Ministry. Draft agreements under discussion cover agriculture, fisheries, human resource development and skills, civil aviation, trade, environmental protection and modernisation of local government, he said. Japan's foreign ministry also announced the visit, saying it was expected to strengthen the two countries' 'Strategic Partnership' and coordination towards a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific', the Chronicle reported.

Source: The Bangladesh Chronicle

Bangladesh will also seek to discuss the rising costs of Dhaka's metro rail projects and the interest rates on Japanese loans during the leaders' talks, TBS reported, citing Siam. Japan has funded major Bangladeshi infrastructure including the Dhaka Metro Rail, the Matarbari port and power project and the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Renewable energy, science and technology, digital transformation and human resource development will also feature, TBS said, and the two sides will discuss regional peace and stability, cooperation on the energy crisis and a sustainable, peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Separately, TBS reported earlier that Bangladesh is set to propose a ¥2.2 trillion ($14 billion) strategic investment and cooperation package to Japan for 2026-31, spanning 12 priority sectors — yaani $14 billion, or 14 arab dollars — including about $3.45 billion for transport and urban connectivity such as metro rail expansion. Japan remains Bangladesh's largest bilateral development partner, having committed over $34 billion in assistance since 1971, TBS reported.

Source: The Business Standard

The signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement between Bangladesh and Japan in February 2026 'has created new opportunities for expanding trade and investment', Siam told the press conference, according to the Chronicle. The visit's outcome on project costs and loan interest rates will become clearer after the negotiations, Siam said.

Oct 26–29PM Tarique Rahman's Tokyo visit
4+MoUs expected to be signed
$14 billionProposed 2026–31 package — yaani 14 arab dollars
$34 billion+Japanese assistance committed since 1971

What is solid

  • Bangladesh and Japan expect to sign more than four MoUs during the October 26–29 visit — Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam via TBS, Oct 23
  • Around eight MoUs are under discussion, covering agriculture, fisheries, skills, civil aviation, trade, environment and local government — Siam via The Bangladesh Chronicle
  • Dhaka will raise metro rail project costs and Japanese loan interest rates with PM Takaichi — TBS

What is only claimed

  • The $14 billion package is a Bangladeshi proposal reported by TBS from an internal Economic Relations Division report — it has not been agreed by Japan
  • Whether loan interest rates will actually be reduced — Siam said the outcome would be clear only after the negotiations