Roundtable on the Future of Bangladesh–Japan Relations

Press Release

BIISS Organises Roundtable on the Future of Bangladesh–Japan Relations Ahead of Prime Minister’s Visit to Japan

Dhaka, 19 October 2026: The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a roundtable titled “Frontiers of Bangladesh–Japan Relations: Prime Minister’s Visit to Japan in Perspective” on Monday, 19 October 2026, to examine the prospects for strengthening bilateral relations and identify practical avenues for expanding trade, investment, technology transfer and development cooperation. Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, Former Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended as the Chief Guest.

In his welcome address, Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General of BIISS, highlighted the importance of continued dialogue on Bangladesh’s relations with Japan. Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, delivered the keynote presentation on “Bangladesh–Japan Relations: Expanding Trade, Investment and Development Frontiers.”

The panel discussion featured Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, and Dr Ishtiaque Selim, Professor, Department of Economics, Jagannath University. The discussion focused on opportunities and challenges in bilateral economic engagement, investment promotion and the future trajectory of the partnership.

A central focus of the roundtable was the potential of the Japan–Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in Tokyo on 6 February 2026, to facilitate trade liberalisation, investment cooperation and deeper economic integration. Participants considered the importance of diversifying Bangladesh’s exports beyond ready-made garments, attracting greater Japanese investment into productive and technology-intensive sectors, and addressing regulatory, infrastructural and skills-related constraints affecting the business environment.

The roundtable sought to generate actionable policy recommendations for relevant government agencies, businesses and development partners. The discussions underscored the importance of transforming the longstanding Bangladesh–Japan partnership into a more diversified, investment-driven and technology-oriented relationship, supported by effective institutional coordination, human capital development and sustained engagement between the two countries.

The roundtable brought together policymakers, researchers, academics and representatives of relevant institutions to assess the evolving Bangladesh–Japan partnership and explore ways to translate high-level diplomatic engagement into concrete economic and developmental outcomes.