Welcome to the Embassy of Bangladesh, Tokyo



Bilateral Political Relations


Japan-Bangladesh bilateral relations emanate from the unwavering Japanese support for the cause of an independent Bangladesh. Japan recognized independent Bangladesh on 10 February 1972 and established diplomatic relations. Following that both the countries established their respective Embassies in 1972. Bangladesh nurture enduring gratitude for all Japanese who stood by in its trying hours. A bond of mutual goodwill and respect has since developed between the two peoples. First President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman visited Japan from 18-24 October 1973 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka. The visit laid down the political foundation for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries. Since then, the bilateral relations between the two countries have developed steadily by the sustained efforts of the successive governments in both the countries.

Japan has been instrumental in building the country’s infrastructure including roads and bridges, power plants, water and sanitation facilities as well as poverty alleviation and human resources development efforts which contributed to the attainment of overall socio-economic development goals of Bangladesh. Japan played great role in supporting Bangladesh at the time of natural disasters. Japan supported Bangladesh in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by providing budget support loans and 4.5 million doses of vaccines (2021). Japan has always assisted Bangladesh in recovering from natural calamities like cyclone, floods etc. Since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis in August 2017, Japan has been a steadfast supporter of the refugee response in Bangladesh, contributing over USD $43.65 million in humanitarian assistance through UN and NGOs for both the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and host community.  The friendly and peace-loving people in Bangladesh always expresses their gratitude to the friendly and peace-loving Japanese people. Thus, over the years Japan became a true and time-tested friend of Bangladesh.

The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan developed strong momentum and grew from strength to strength in recent years. The official visit of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan from 29 November- 02 December 2010 resulted in the signing of the Joint Statement between the two countries stipulated fundamental basis for the future bilateral engagements, including fresh political commitments from the Government of Japan to undertake major development projects in Bangladesh and to expand bilateral trade and investment. The Government of Japan has continued its support in wider ranges of fields from social development to energy, power generation, communication infrastructure, investment, trade, textile, garments and IT projects.

One reality is Japan’s interest in South Asia. As a region, South Asia was not viewed by Japan as important as compared to Southeast Asia, its own region Far East or USA. Being a US ally, when the USA  developed interest in Indo-Pacific, there was a renewed thinking in Japan’s own foreign policy pursuit. Under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” pioneered by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014, Japan reenforced her engagement with countries in South Asia (in their Foreign Policy termed as Southwest Asia) including Bangladesh. Japan developed stronger relationship with India through the "Global and Strategic Partnership". In September 2014, Prime Minister Abe visited Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Under “Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth-Belt (Big-B) initiative” Japan came forward with big investment proposal to Bangladesh and through the back-to-back visits of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan and late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh the two countries entered into a “Comprehensive partnership” in 2014.

As Bangladesh positions itself as a strategic geo-politically important country, Japan continued to show its interest in Bangladesh as an important partner within its Indo-Pacific strategy. However, there is a need to keep in focus the new realities and set a new direction for Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with Japan for mutual benefit.

The year, 2022, was a remarkable landmark as Bangladesh and Japan celebrated as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-Japan diplomatic relations. The former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Japan on 25-28 April 2023 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During this visit, Bangladesh and Japan signed a Joint Statement on “Strategic Partnership”. Nine instruments were signed between the two countries to institutionalize cooperation in the areas of Customs, ICT and Cybersecurity, Defense, Industrial upgradation, Agriculture, Metro Rail, Ship Recycling, Intellectual property and Children’s Library setup.

Japan welcomed the formation of the new interim government in Bangladesh in August, 2024 with the Chief Adviser, His Excellency, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a well-known Economist and Nobel laureate for peace in Japan. Bangladesh has assured Japan that all the ongoing foreign funded projects will continue to the expected implementation.

There has been regular visits by the Ministers, Secretaries and high officials of the Government of Bangladesh to Japan (a list of important visits in 2022-2024 period is listed). Then Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP visited Japan at the invitation of the Speaker of House of Representatives and former Foreign Minister, Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP visited Japan in April 2022 for bilateral meeting with then Foreign Minister of Japan and in September 2022 for attending former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s State Funeral. There is regular exchange of defense and security visits. In recent years, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staffs and DG Coast Guard have visited Japan. Delegation from Bangladesh NDC visits Japan regularly as part of their course study.

The Embassy continued to liaise with different ministries and agencies in Japan in promoting economic, trade and investment and human resource relations with Japan, and also arranged meetings, seminars, and public diplomacy initiatives in relevant areas. Due to the effort of the Embassy, the flow of technical intern and specified skilled workers have started to increase steadily in recent years. The Bangladesh expatriates living in Japan is approximately 32000 as of December, 2024. With the commencement of regular flights (3 flights per week) of Bangladesh Biman on Dhaka-Narita-Dhaka route, there is prospect of more people-to-people contact and resulting stronger bilateral relations in the days ahead. From November, 2024 Biman has reduced flights to 2 flights per week.


Important visits (2022-2024): 

  • Incoming Visit from Bangladesh to Japan

2024

•            Visit of former Minister for Housing and Public Works R.A.M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury in connection with donation of peace monument to Nagasaki Peace Part, Nagasaki, 28-30 May 2024         

•             Visit of Mr. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of ERD, June 3-7, 2024

  • Visit of former Minister of Railways Md. Zillul Hakim , 17-18 July 2024

2023

•             Visit of the former Minister, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, Mr. Md Tazul Islam, 11-12 January 2023 and 01-06 October 2022.

  • Visit of the former Minister for Food, Mr. Sadhan Chandra Mojumder, MP, 05-09 February 2023
  • Former Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh delegation to the 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Japan in Tokyo, 28 February 2023.
  • Visit of the former Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, 27 March to 02 April 2023.
  • Visit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan, 24-28 April 2023
  • Visit of the former Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Zahid Maleque, MP, to Nagasaki to attend ‘Japan Health Systems Flagship Course’ program, 14-18 May 2023.
  • Visit of the former Speaker of Bangladesh, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, 24-29 May 2023.
  • Visit of the former State Minister, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Mr. Md Zakir Hossen, MP, 26 May to 01 June 2023
  • Visit of the former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Mr. Md. Mahbub Ali, MP, who  led a high-level delegation with the inaugural flight of Bangladesh Biman on Dhaka-Narita sector, 01-02 September 2023.
  • Visit of the former Minister, Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh Mr. Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, MP for an inspection under the project "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Construction Project", 27 September to 03 October 2023.
  •  
  • 2022

•             Visit of the former Foreign Minister, Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP, 26-27 September 2022 to attend the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He earlier undertook a bilateral visit to Japan in April 2022.

•             Visit of the former State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Mr. Nasrul Hamid, MP, 28 July 2022

 

From Armed Forces:

2024

•             Visit of a delegation of the 23rd Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) of the National Defence College of Bangladesh visited Japan from 08-12 September 2024 as part of their overseas study tour

  • Visit of Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan to Japan to attend the Air Force Forum in Japan (AFFJ) being held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Air Self-Defence Force, 14-18 October 2024
  •  
  • 2023
  • Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury, Director General Bangladesh Coast Guard visited Japan to attend the 3rd Coast Guard Global Summit arranged by Japan Coast Guard in Tokyo, 30 October-03 November 2023.
  • Visit of a 27- member delegation from the National Defence College (NDC) of Bangladesh visited Japan from 24-30 September 2023 as part of their overseas study tour
  • Visit of the former Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, rcds, psc (retired) to attend the Munich Leaders Meeting, 14 -16 May 2023

•             Visit of the Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan BBP, BUP, nswc, fawc, psc, Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force, 17-23 February 2023.

 

2022

•             Visit of the Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, NBP, NUP, ndc, afwc, psc, Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh Navy to attend the International Fleet Review (IFR)2022-Japan and 18th  Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), 04-10 November 2022.


  • Outgoing visit from Japan to Bangladesh 

2024

  • Visit of Mr. ONO Keiichi, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in connection with the 5th Regular Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) held in Dhaka, 25-26 June 2024
  • Visit of the former Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. HOSAKA Yasushi to Dhaka to attend the 30th Anniversary Global Dialogue of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), 15 May 2024

 

2023      

•             Visit of Mr. NAKATANI Gen, former Special Advisor to Prime Minister of Japan on International Human Rights, 19- 21 February 2023 [Current Defense Minister]

•             Visit of Mr. TAKAGI Kei, former Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, 12-13 May 2023

  • Visit of Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, former Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), 23-25 May 2023
  • Visit of Mr. KOMURA Masahiro, former Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, 6-9 October 2023

  • 2022
  • Visit of Mr. HONDA Taro, former Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, 25-27 July 2022
  • •             Visit of Mr. TAKEI Shunsuke, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, 23- 24 November 2022

Political Consultations

During Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in May 2014 decision has been taken to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Japan. After that both sides re-committed themselves to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations between two Governments when Japanese Prime Minister visited Bangladesh in September 2014. Following the decision, the first ever FOC took place in Dhaka in February 2015. There have been five rounds of negotiations since then in 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023 and in June, 2024. The next round is expected to be held in Tokyo.

  •  
  • Bilateral Agreements/MoUs:

  • Over the years, Bangladesh and Japan has signed a number of Agreements/MoUs to strengthen and institutionalize cooperation between them. The list of Agreements/MoUs as of 2023 signed between the two countries are mentioned below:

Sl No.

Year

Title of the Agreement/MOUs

Name of the Country

Date of sign/entered into force

Remarks

1.

1978

Agreement for the Exchange of International Money Orders.

Japan

1978

-

2.

1980

Agreement for Air Services.

Japan

1980

-

3.

1982

Cultural Agreement

Japan

10 February 1982

(Ratified on 13 December 1982)

-

4.

1991

Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.

Japan

1991

-

5.

1999

Agreement concerning the Promotion and Protection of Investment.

Japan

1999

-

6.

2002

Agreement on Technical Cooperation.

Japan

2002

-

7.

2005

Bangladesh-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement.

Japan

2005

-

8.

2008

Loan agreement for US$ 60 mi towards Emergency Disaster Management Projects.

Japan

25 Feb 2008

-

9.

2008

Agreement on Technical cooperation between the GoJ and the GoB.

Japan

2008

-

10.

2012

Exchange of Notes on Improvement of the Capacity of Public Food Storage

Japan

2012

-

11.

2014

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and JETRO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish an exclusive industrial park in Bangladesh.

Japan

27 May 2014

-

12.

2016

Visa exemption of Diplomatic Passport Holders

Japan



13.

2018

Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan to widen the scope of training and jobs for Bangladeshi youths in Japan.  Between Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan

Japan

29 January 2018


14.

2022

Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Joint Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project between PPPA, Bangladesh and MLIT, Japan

Japan

Tokyo, 05 October 2023

Renewed for 5 years

15.

2023

Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


16.

2023

MOC between the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan on Agricultural Cooperation

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


17.

2023

MOC in the Field of Information and Communication Technology including Cyber Security between ICT Division, Ministry of Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


18.

2023

MOC between the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on “Bangladesh-Japan Industrial Upgrading Partnership”

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


19.

2023

Memorandum on Defence Cooperation between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of Japan

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


20.

2023

Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh on Cooperation in the field of Metro Rail

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


21.

2023

Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh in field of Ship Recycling

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


22.

2023

Memorandum of Cooperation between the Japan Patent Office and the Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Intellectual Property

Japan

Tokyo, 26 April 2023


23.

2023

MOU between Bangladesh National Museum and the Tadao Ando Architect and Associates for the Donation of the Bangladesh Children’s Library

Japan

Tokyo, 27 April 2023

Donation by Tadao Ando