Dhaka, Jun 01 (V7N) – Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has returned to Bangladesh following a successful four-day official visit to Japan. He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:20 am on Saturday (May 31) via a Singapore Airlines flight, confirmed his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

The Chief Advisor departed Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 11:20 am (local time) and transited through Singapore on his return to Dhaka.

During his high-profile visit, Professor Yunus attended nearly 20 programs in Tokyo, including a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba on Friday. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan within 2025, aimed at deepening economic and trade cooperation.

Major Outcomes of the Visit:

  • Japanese Loan Commitment:
    Prime Minister Ishiba pledged a total loan package of USD 1.063 billion to Bangladesh:

    • USD 418 million in Development Policy Loan to support economic reforms and climate resilience.

    • USD 641 million for the Joydevpur–Ishwardi dual-gauge double lane railway project.

    • USD 4.2 million in grant assistance for Human Resource Development (HRD) scholarships.

  • Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):

    • On Friday, six MoUs were signed at the ‘Bangladesh Business Seminar’ in Tokyo to enhance economic, investment, and technical cooperation.

    • On Thursday, two MoUs focused on skills development and labor employment, aimed at preparing Bangladeshi workers for employment opportunities in Japan, which is grappling with a labor shortage.

Professor Yunus, a recipient of the 2004 Nikkei Asia Prize, was invited to Tokyo for the high-level visit that began on May 28. The tour underscores a renewed momentum in Bangladesh-Japan relations, particularly in trade, infrastructure, and human capital development.

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