Bangladesh to Seek $1B Soft Loan from Japan During Visit

Bangladesh will request a $1 billion soft loan from Japan as budgetary support during the upcoming visit of the Chief Adviser from 28 to 31 May.

Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique briefed reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, ahead of the visit.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on 30 May to discuss strategic bilateral issues aimed at strengthening relations across various sectors.

A formal welcome ceremony including a guard of honour will be held in Tokyo before the talks.

“The main focus of this visit is budgetary support,” Siddique said, adding that all strategic bilateral issues will be addressed during the discussions.

Seven memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit.

The formal announcement of the $1 billion soft loan request will follow the bilateral talks, with an exchange of notes to be signed.

Prof Yunus is set to depart Dhaka on the night of 27 May.

He will also participate in the Nikkei 30th Future of Asia event in Tokyo, delivering a keynote speech at a plenary session.

Other officials at the briefing included Mohammed Nore-Alam, Director General of the East Asia & Pacific wing, and Shah Asif Rahman, Director General of the Public Diplomacy wing.

The visit comes after an invitation extended earlier this year by the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Under Japan’s new Free and Open Indo-Pacific and Big-B initiatives, the country aims to promote sustainable development in the region.

The two countries will continue to enhance their strategic partnership, focusing on cooperation in security, economy, cultural exchange, and people-to-people ties.