Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus returned to Dhaka in the early hours of today, Sunday, June 1, 2025, concluding a productive four-day official visit to Japan. The Singapore Airlines flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at approximately 12:15 AM (Sunday), as confirmed by his Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The delegation had departed Narita International Airport at about 11:10 AM (Tokyo time) on Saturday.
During his visit to Tokyo, Chief Adviser Yunus participated in approximately 20 engagements, including a significant meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. According to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, the visit has elevated Bangladesh’s relationship with Japan to new heights, particularly through the bilateral discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister.
On Friday, during their bilateral meeting, Chief Adviser Yunus and Prime Minister Ishiba pledged to finalize an Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Bangladesh in the coming months, aiming to deepen economic and trade relations. Prime Minister Ishiba also announced a commitment of US$1.063 billion to Bangladesh for budget support and railway development. Following this, three documents on exchange of notes were signed:
On the same day, the Chief Adviser addressed the “Bangladesh Business Seminar,” where Japan and Bangladesh formalized six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focusing on economic, investment, and other areas of cooperation.
Earlier, on Thursday, Bangladesh and Japan signed two MoUs aimed at enhancing the skills of Bangladeshi manpower and facilitating their employment in Japan, addressing Japan’s labor shortage. These agreements were signed at a human resources seminar hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan, held in Hirakwacho Chiyoda City, Tokyo, with Chief Adviser Yunus in attendance. At this event, Japanese authorities and businesses announced plans to recruit at least 100,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next five years.
Also on Thursday, Chief Adviser Yunus delivered a keynote speech at the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia. On the sidelines of this forum, he met with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and urged his support for Bangladesh’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Adding to his accomplishments during the trip, Professor Yunus received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Soka University on Friday, in recognition of his contributions to social innovation and global development. Professor Yunus, a recipient of the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004, had arrived in Tokyo on May 28.
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