Bangladesh and Japan leaders agree investment, ports and tech cooperation in Tokyo

Centre · 2Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Tokyo on Tuesday, with Japan eyeing private investment of up to 1 trillion yen (about $6 billion) in Bangladesh over the next five years. 1 2 Centre · 1A joint statement cited a projection of that investment creating two hundred thousand jobs in Bangladesh, and the leaders agreed to expand cooperation in energy security and supply chains. 1 Centre · 2Rahman is on a four-day official visit from October 26 to 29, his first to Japan since being elected in February; he took office after his party won the first general election since the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina. 2 3

Centre · 2The joint statement said the two countries would upgrade the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt Initiative (Big-B) into a broader "Big-B for Shared Prosperity" framework; Rahman said it would cover energy, deep-sea ports, industrial infrastructure, technology and regional connectivity. 2 3 Centre · 1SCMP says the initiative centres on the Matarbari deep-sea port, developed with heavy Japanese investment. 2 Centre · 1Rahman also proposed a Bangladesh-Japan Tech Park for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, and discussed space science, satellite engineering and Japanese support for high-speed rail. 3

Centre · 1At the joint news conference Takaichi said Japan "will strongly support Bangladesh’s autonomy and resilience", while Rahman invited Japanese investors, businesses and financial institutions to take part in Bangladesh's "next phase of growth". 1 Centre · 1The statement also covered security: the leaders reaffirmed bilateral security cooperation, welcomed the entry into force of an agreement on transferring defence equipment and technology, and called for the full re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. 1 Centre · 1On the Rohingya, the statement said the ultimate solution is a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar; Bangladesh hosts about 1.2 million Rohingya, and Rahman thanked Japan for its humanitarian assistance. 1 3

Centre · 2Context: Japan is Bangladesh's largest bilateral development partner, with trade of around $4 billion; ties became a strategic partnership in 2023, and an economic partnership agreement in February lowered tariffs. Bangladesh faces economic hardship, with energy shortages linked to Middle East disruption, and the IMF projects 3.2 per cent growth for 2026-27, down from 4.3 per cent forecast in April. 1 2 Centre · 1Analysts quoted by SCMP said the push fits Dhaka's aim of greater strategic autonomy beyond reliance on China and India; they expect India to be broadly comfortable, while one said China might be more cautious, and all stressed Bangladesh would still need to balance its regional dependencies. 2 Centre · 2Separately, Japan's foreign ministry said on Monday that notes were exchanged for a 2.12 billion yen (US$13.4 million) grant to supply patrol vessels to the Bangladesh coastguard, and earlier this month the countries agreed to recruit Bangladeshi workers from next April. 2 1