TOKYO/DHAKA, May 31 – Japan has pledged $1.063 billion in assistance to Bangladesh, including funds for economic reform, railway infrastructure, and educational support, as interim Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus visited Tokyo to deepen bilateral ties, officials said on Friday.
The package comprises a $418 million development policy loan aimed at supporting economic reforms and climate resilience, according to a statement from Yunus’ press office. An additional $641 million will be allocated to upgrade a key railway line, while $4.2 million in grants will support scholarships for Bangladeshi students.
Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former microfinance pioneer, assumed leadership of Bangladesh last August after widespread student-led protests forced long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.
The financial pledge follows a meeting between Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Friday. The two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in economic development, climate adaptation, and human capital investment.
Japan is a key development partner for Bangladesh, having funded a range of infrastructure and education projects over the past decades. The latest announcement comes as Bangladesh grapples with post-crisis recovery and seeks foreign support to stabilize its economy and upgrade critical infrastructure.
