Former Chief Adviser to the interim government and Nobel Peace Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has returned to Dhaka after a six-day visit to Japan.
He returned to his office at the Yunus Centre in Mirpur today (30 March).
During the visit, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama joined Prof Yunus for dinner and expressed ‘strong interest’ in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
He participated as a “Sage” at the Harmony by Design: Asia Dialogue in Tokyo, organised by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, alongside regional leaders, including former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.
Prof Yunus also met former First Lady Akie Abe and engaged with senior members of the Foundation, said the Yunus Centre today.
He delivered a keynote at the Next-Generation Asia Peacebuilding Forum, encouraging youth to link economic opportunity with peace through social business.
He also joined discussions with Japanese recruiters on expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi workers under a zero-cost migration model.
On 26 March, Professor Yunus met leaders from Japan’s creative industries to explore collaboration in animation, digital education and skills development.
He also attended a roundtable on ethical migration under the GEMS-Net initiative, focusing on building a transparent and responsible migration system.
At the United Nations University, he interacted with young children in a lively session on social business and participated in the Yunus Global Forum 2026, where he delivered a keynote on building a “Three Zero World”—zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.
On 27 March, Prof Yunus visited Sakai, Ibaraki Prefecture—an innovation-driven city near Tokyo. Prof Yunus was welcomed by Mayor Masahiro Hashimoto, who is leading efforts to transform the city into a model “3ZERO Smart City” inspired by the vision of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.
Prof Yunus interacted with students at a local elementary school, where he planted a cherry tree symbolising future generations.
He also discussed initiatives such as social business funds and “3ZERO Clubs” to promote community innovation.
The visit included a stop at Bando Taro Co., Ltd., where he observed a business model integrating social impact and planted peach trees as a symbol of sustainability and long-term vision.
Prof Yunus also joined a seminar on “Investment in the Future of Bangladesh” at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Tokyo on 27 March, organised by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and co-hosted by Ambassador Md Daud Ali.
The event brought together around 100 participants, including business leaders and members of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.
In his keynote, Prof Yunus highlighted the potential of Bangladesh’s young workforce, encouraged Japanese investment, and underscored the significance of the Economic Partnership Agreement as a milestone for expanding trade and establishing production hubs for both domestic and global markets.
The delegation also included Md. Ashraful Hassan, Managing Director and CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust; Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director of the Yunus Centre and Shazeeb M Khairul Islam, founder of YY Ventures.
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