Dhaka: Bangladesh will seek a $1 billion soft loan from Japan during the upcoming official visit of Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Tokyo, scheduled for May 28-31. “The main focus of this visit is budgetary support,” stated Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique while addressing a curtain-raiser press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser Yunus is expected to depart Dhaka early Wednesday for the four-day visit. During this time, he will engage in bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 30, focusing on deepening cooperation in strategic areas. The formal announcement of the soft loan is anticipated following these discussions, after which an exchange of notes will be signed.
Tokyo plans to extend a red-carpet welcome to the Chief Adviser upon his arrival, including a guard of honour. The visit’s priority will be to enhance bilateral relations, with a special focus on economic and strategic collaboration. Seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed, covering areas such as energy cooperation, human resource development, manpower export, and the establishment of special economic zones.
Professor Yunus will also participate in the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo on May 29-30, delivering a keynote speech in a plenary session. Invited by Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ikuina Akiko earlier this year, Yunus is also a recipient of the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize, awarded in 2004.
Acting Foreign Secretary Siddique highlighted that discussions during the visit will cover a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including trade and investment, political and economic cooperation, security, regional and global developments, and the issue of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar. Japan has reiterated its commitment to strengthening engagement with Bangladesh under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (Big-B) initiative and the broader Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.
As part of these initiatives, Japan aims to support high-quality infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and promote the expansion of Japanese manufacturing value chains. Diplomatic sources have noted that both countries will seek to further enhance ties under the Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership, emphasizing people-to-people connectivity, cultural exchanges, and sectoral cooperation. Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Wing Mohammed Nore-Alam and Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing Shah Asif Rahman also addressed the media.