Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will depart Dhaka for Tokyo late tonight, Sunday (October 25), on a four-day official visit to Japan aimed at attracting Japanese investment and expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 12:10 AM. He is accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, along with a high-level delegation comprising cabinet ministers, advisors, and senior government officials.

According to the official itinerary, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will hold a high-level bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan on Tuesday (October 27). He is also slated to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and engage in discussions with prominent Japanese business leaders.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold a series of meetings with top executives from major Japanese institutions, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

His schedule also includes prospective visits to an LNG terminal, a power plant, Uniqlo headquarters, and a Toyota manufacturing facility.

Bilateral discussions are expected to focus heavily on trade, foreign direct investment, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and human resource development.

Following the bilateral summit, the Japanese Prime Minister will host an official luncheon in honor of the Bangladeshi leader.

Diplomatic efforts during the visit will focus on expanding market access for Bangladeshi goods in Japan and creating new employment opportunities.

The implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed on February 6 this year, is expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

Furthermore, Japan's long-term partnership in Bangladesh's mega-infrastructure projects will be reviewed. Detailed discussions regarding project financing, terms, and technical support are anticipated, particularly following cost escalations of 83 percent and 113 percent for Dhaka's MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 projects, respectively.

The Prime Minister is also expected to inspect an LNG terminal and power plant in the Chiba region, as well as Toyota's manufacturing facilities in Nagoya.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam noted that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or cooperation announcements are expected across sectors including agriculture, fisheries, skill development, trade, environmental conservation, and local government modernization.

Deliberations are also likely to touch upon the Rohingya crisis, energy security, and regional and international peace and stability.