Bangladesh in Motion: Building New Bridges for a Shared Future
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, made an official visit to Japan from May 28 to 31. His visit was the first since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, after weeks of political unrest.
In Tokyo, Yunus sought to build on his country's longstanding partnership with Japan through renewed state support and deeper economic and societal ties. PM Ishiba escorts CA Yunus past the honor guard during the welcome ceremony. (©Prime Minister's Office)
During the four-day trip, the chief adviser held talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, senior officials, and business leaders. He secured a $1.06 billion budget assistance pledge, setting the stage for deeper bilateral cooperation.
The financial package is earmarked for Bangladesh's economic reforms, climate resilience, railway modernization, and education.
Beyond government-to-government dialogue, Yunus addressed one of Japan's most pressing challenges: labor shortages. With a rapidly aging population and a declining workforce, Bangladesh is emerging as a critical partner in supplying young, skilled labor to boost Japan's economy in the decades ahead.
To support this effort, a human resources seminar was held on May 29 in Tokyo, drawing some 300 attendees. Organized by the Bangladeshi embassy, the event united state officials and recruitment agencies to promote the mobilization of Bangladeshi youth in Japan's labor market. Officials from Japan and Bangladesh sign a memorandum of understanding on May 29 (©Kenji Yoshida)
In his speech, Yunus emphasized the value of people-to-people connections and called for closer collaboration in training and deploying competent workers. The chief adviser also praised his friend Miki Watanabe, chairman of the Japanese restaurant group Watami, expressing gratitude for his sustained backing of Bangladesh's development.
Watanabe echoed the sentiment, pledging to act as a bridge between the two countries. On the sidelines, a new memorandum of understanding was signed between a Watami-affiliated company and the Bangladeshi government to establish a Japan Training Center in Bangladesh. Watanabe (left) and Yunus (right). (©Sankei by Yoshifuru Ogino)
Scheduled to open in October, the center will offer Japanese language instruction and vocational training aligned with Japan's Technical Intern Training Program and Specified Skilled Worker program. Its goal is to prepare 3,000 Bangladeshi workers annually for placement in Japan.
Several government-level memoranda were also signed to enhance labor mobility between the two nations.
The focus on human resources complemented a series of other high-profile events. On Friday, Yunus spoke at a Japan External Trade Organization event where six memoranda of understanding were signed, spanning sectors such as energy, finance, and information technology.
Earlier, the chief adviser participated in the 30th Nikkei Forum, where he held talks with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. In their conversation, Yunus urged Mahathir to support Bangladesh's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a long-held diplomatic objective for Dhaka.
The latest visit marked strategic gains for both sides. For Tokyo, the progress affirmed Japan's growing expectations for South Asia to meet its demographic and economic challenges.
In Dhaka, the visit signaled that despite domestic upheaval, momentum for reform and a positive relationship with Japan persists. The series of agreements is also expected to help ease pressure on the country's overpopulated workforce.
Author: Kenji Yoshida
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