Tokyo: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus departed Tokyo this morning, concluding a highly productive four-day official visit to Japan. A Singapore Airlines flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage took off from Narita International Airport, heading to Dhaka via Singapore at approximately 11:20 am local time, confirmed Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder to BSS.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Adviser's itinerary in Tokyo included around 20 significant engagements, featuring a crucial meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba. During this bilateral meeting, the leaders committed to finalizing an Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Bangladesh in the upcoming months. This agreement aims to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The Japanese prime minister also announced a substantial financial commitment of US$ 1.063 billion to Bangladesh. This funding is earmarked for budget support and the development of the railway sector. As part of this commitment, three important documents were signed, encompassing a Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience (418 million USD), a Loan for the Joydebpur-Ishwardi dual-gauge double-lane railway project (641 million USD), and a grant for a human development scholarship (4.2 million USD).
During his visit, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus also addressed the 'Bangladesh Business Seminar,' where both nations signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on economic, investment, and other cooperative areas. Earlier, Bangladesh and Japan inked two MoUs to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi workers and facilitate their employment in Japan to address the latter's labor shortage. The agreements were formalized at a human resources seminar hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan, attended by the Chief Adviser.
In addition to these engagements, Prof Yunus delivered a keynote speech at the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia. On the sidelines of this forum, he met with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, urging support for Bangladesh's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The visit also included a moment of personal honor for Prof Yunus, as he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Soka University in recognition of his contributions to social innovation and global development. Prof Yunus, who previously received the Nikkei Asia Prize in 2004, arrived in Tokyo on May 28.