PM urges Japan to engage all parties to resolve Rohingya crisis

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today urged Japan to remain actively engaged with all parties to promote peace and stability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and help resolve the Rohingya crisis.

“A lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in Myanmar,” he said, stressing the need for the early repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner.

The Prime Minister made the call during a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, Kantei, at 11:30am local time.

Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and the resulting displacement crisis, Tarique Rahman called for an end to all forms of violence, unhindered humanitarian assistance and dialogue among all concerned parties.

He appreciated Japan’s support for Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts to shelter Rohingyas forcibly displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, urging Tokyo to continue engaging with relevant parties to help restore peace and stability in the region.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues, reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism, international peace and respect for international law.

Tarique Rahman expressed the hope of working closely with Japan to strengthen multilateral cooperation and address global challenges.

On bilateral economic cooperation, the Prime Minister called on the Japanese government and private sector to play a more active role in Bangladesh’s economic development, technological advancement and industrialisation.

He said Bangladesh was working to establish itself as a hub for economic activity, technology and manufacturing, noting that the country could become the world’s ninth-largest consumer economy by 2030, while its gross domestic product (GDP) could exceed US$1 trillion by 2034.

The two prime ministers discussed private investment worth 1 trillion Japanese yen (US$6.3 billion) in Bangladesh’s energy, infrastructure and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. The possibility of sending a Japanese team to Bangladesh soon to advance the initiative was also featured in the discussions.

On energy security, Tarique Rahman called for greater Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, efficient power generation and renewable energy.

He also expressed gratitude for Japan’s recent emergency assistance loan of 50 billion Japanese yen under the Partnership for Power Asia initiative.

To advance technological cooperation, he proposed establishing a Bangladesh-Japan Tech Park focusing on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics and electronics manufacturing. He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in space science, satellite engineering and related technologies.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s infrastructure plans, the Prime Minister outlined proposals for a high-speed railway network connecting the country’s six divisional cities and a nationwide elevated-road network, seeking Japanese technical assistance, investment and financing for such projects.

Tarique Rahman said his government was committed to improving the investment climate through reforms to regulatory systems, tax policies, customs clearance and fund-transfer procedures. He also expressed hope that the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, would be implemented promptly.

He proposed establishing a joint ministerial commission to identify priority areas, accelerate implementation and translate opportunities for cooperation into concrete initiatives, while underscoring the importance of closer engagement between the two countries’ business communities.

The Bangladesh premier also invited Takaichi to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Following the summit, the two leaders made a joint press announcement on the outcomes of their discussions and exchanged several memorandums of understanding in key areas. Takaichi also hosted an official luncheon in honour of Tarique Rahman at the Kantei.

The Bangladesh premier arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a four-day official visit at the invitation of Takaichi. During the visit, he is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders.