PM seeks Japanese backing for Bangladesh’s energy security

Highlights

• Bangladesh requests budget support and concessional loans
• Proposals cover skills, innovation and agricultural modernisation
• Jica reaffirms commitment to Bangladesh’s development and prosperity

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought continued Japanese support for Bangladesh’s energy security, including budgetary assistance, as the government looks to meet its energy needs amid an uncertain global situation.

He made the request during a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) President Tanaka Akihiko in Japan today (26 October), according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

The meeting took place at 5:10pm Japan time, with Jica Senior Vice-President Hara Shohei and other senior officials present.

Tarique requested budget support similar to that provided last year, citing the current global energy situation. He also called for continued concessional loans and expanded technical cooperation aligned with Bangladesh’s development priorities.

Recalling a productive meeting with Tanaka during his visit to Dhaka in July 2026, the prime minister expressed gratitude for Japan’s longstanding cooperation and Jica’s contribution to Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development.

He said Japanese support had played an important role in infrastructure development and economic progress, stressing the need to deepen bilateral ties and sustain cooperation to improve people’s living standards.

Faster delivery of Japanese-funded projects

The discussions focused on completing major Japanese-funded development projects within their scheduled timelines and speeding up the approval and implementation of priority projects awaiting clearance.

Bangladesh also proposed expanding cooperation through a Bangladesh–Japan Skills Partnership, establishing a Technological Village and Innovation City, and strengthening collaboration in agricultural modernisation, agro-processing and light engineering.

Jica President Tanaka reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with Bangladesh to achieve prosperity.

Tarique expressed hope that the proposed initiatives would strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and contribute to shared prosperity.

The Bangladeshi delegation included Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and other ministers, advisers and state ministers.

Senior officials from the Economic Relations Division and the Prime Minister’s Office were also present.