Bangladesh and Japan Move Towards Landmark Defence Agreement

Reading Time: 4 minutes Bangladesh and Japan are preparing to sign a landmark defence agreement within this year, a development that diplomats on both sides describe as a breakthrough for bilateral security cooperation. The deal, formally titled the Agreement on the Exchange of Armaments and Defence Technology, is expected to open avenues for supply of defence equipment, technology transfer, and joint research. The initiative gained traction following Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus’s high-profile visit to Tokyo in May 2025. During his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, both sides agreed in principle to advance towards a specialised defence framework. Building on a memorandum of cooperation signed in April 2023, the proposed agreement is intended as a comprehensive instrument enabling technology sharing, defence equipment transfer, and collaborative research programmes. Defence Engagement at Multiple Levels Bangladesh’s military leadership has already been engaging Japan directly. In October 2024,