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, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, visited Japan at the invitation of General Uchikura Hiroaki, Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
During the visit, the Air Chief attended the Indo-Pacific Air Chiefs Conference (InPACT) in Tokyo as part of the Air Force Forum in Japan (AFFJ). He also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several nations, addressing professional cooperation, air defence, and training. These discussions laid the groundwork for potential collaboration in radar, surveillance, and airborne early warning systems — sectors where Japanese industry has shown particular interest.
Professor Yunus’s May 2025 Tokyo visit provided the political impetus to elevate these exchanges into a strategic framework. Alongside the summit with Prime Minister Ishiba, he attended the Nikkei Forum 30 “Future of Asia” conference, where he articulated Bangladesh’s vision of balanced foreign partnerships.
Defence, Development and Strategic Assistance
Japan reinforced its strategic outreach with concrete financial and security commitments. Tokyo pledged USD 1.063 billion in budgetary and development support, including funding for railway infrastructure and additional grants. Significantly, Japan announced the transfer of five patrol boats to the Bangladesh Navy under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme — a tangible demonstration of dual economic and defence cooperation.
Dhaka and Tokyo also advanced discussions on loan agreements worth USD 1.074 billion, alongside smaller grant deals. This linkage of financial packages with defence-related support demonstrates Japan’s evolving role as both a development and security partner for Bangladesh.
Scope of the Agreement
According to Japanese defence policy, the “Arms and Defence Technology Exchange” framework is structured around three pillars:
- Transfer of equipment — including patrol vessels, surveillance systems, radar, communications gear, and other non-lethal technologies.
- Joint research — in fields such as cyber security, maritime surveillance, and satellite technology.
- Export controls — ensuring transferred items cannot be re-exported and remain within agreed operational parameters.
For Bangladesh, the pact would represent access to advanced maritime and cyber capabilities, enhancing the capacity of its armed forces while modernising its defence technology base.
Strategic Significance and Balancing
Commenting on the proposed agreement, Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), observed:
“Under the proposed agreement, Bangladesh will receive not only equipment but also defence-related technologies from Japan. This would contribute positively to the strengthening of our armed forces. Since the agreement carries no binding conditions, it will also be favourable for us.”
Yet analysts caution that the deal may invite a measured reaction from Beijing, given that China remains Bangladesh’s largest supplier of military hardware. Japan’s entry as a strategic partner would add a new layer to Dhaka’s defence diplomacy, requiring careful balancing between its traditional suppliers and emerging partners.
Japanese Defence Industry Outreach
Japan has already signalled its intent to engage Bangladesh’s defence market. Representatives of Mitsubishi Electronics have visited Dhaka for discussions with the Bangladesh Air Force, showcasing radar and surveillance systems. Tokyo has also hinted at financial mechanisms — including concessional support — to facilitate sales, should Bangladesh face fiscal constraints.
Wider Context
Japan has concluded similar defence technology exchange agreements with twelve countries since 2013, beginning with the United Kingdom. In Asia, signatories include India, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Mongolia.
Bangladesh, since independence, has signed 20 defence-related memoranda of understanding with 11 nations. The most recent, with Malaysia in August 2025, covered defence training and industry cooperation.
The forthcoming agreement with Japan, however, would mark Dhaka’s first detailed pact specifically focused on equipment and technology transfer with an advanced Asian industrial power. This has the potential to evolve into a long-term partnership spanning maritime security, air defence, and cyber capabilities.
Annex I: Countries with which Japan has signed “Arms and Defence Technology Exchange” Agreements
| Year | Country | Region | Focus Areas (as reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | United Kingdom | Europe | Joint research, defence equipment |
| 2014 | Australia | Asia-Pacific | Submarine technology, defence R&D |
| 2015 | India | South Asia | Maritime security, aircraft tech |
| 2016 | Philippines | Southeast Asia | Patrol vessels, surveillance |
| 2017 | France | Europe | Aerospace, satellite technology |
| 2018 | Malaysia (talks, MoU stage) | Southeast Asia | Cyber security, defence cooperation |
| 2019 | Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Naval security, training |
| 2020 | United States | North America | Defence R&D, advanced technologies |
| 2021 | Singapore | Southeast Asia | Cyber and maritime surveillance |
| 2022 | Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Maritime domain awareness |
| 2023 | Thailand | Southeast Asia | Technology cooperation |
| 2024 | Mongolia | Northeast Asia | Armaments, military technology |
Annex II: Defence-Related MoUs Signed by Bangladesh Since Independence
| Year | Partner Country | Number of MoUs | Areas Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s–1980s | China | Multiple | Arms procurement, training, logistics |
| 1990s | Russia | 2 | Air force modernisation, MiG-29, Mi-17 |
| 2000s | Saudi Arabia | 1 | Defence cooperation |
| 2000s | Kuwait | 1 | Training, logistics support |
| 2010s | Qatar | 1 | Defence exchange, training |
| 2010s | Turkey | 2 | Defence industry, UAVs, artillery |
| 2017 | India | 1 | Training, technical cooperation |
| 2019 | France | 1 | Naval technologies, defence dialogue |
| 2021 | United Kingdom | 1 | Defence partnership framework |
| 2023 | Japan | 1 (MoC) | Defence cooperation (pre-agreement) |
| 2025 | Malaysia | 1 | Defence training, industry cooperation |
Assessment
The emerging Bangladesh–Japan defence agreement represents far more than a simple exchange of technology. It reflects Dhaka’s desire to diversify its strategic partnerships while gaining access to advanced maritime and cyber systems.
With Dr Yunus’s summit diplomacy, the Air Force Chief’s earlier engagement, and Tokyo’s readiness to back arms sales with financial support, this agreement could set the tone for a new era of Bangladesh–Japan strategic cooperation.
If signed, the pact would not only raise the technological standard of Bangladesh’s defence forces but also mark a historic step in Dhaka’s balancing of relationships between East Asia’s industrial powers and its long-standing suppliers.
Ayesha Farid is a regional security specialist focusing on South Asia, with over a decade of experience analysing inter-state tensions, cross-border insurgency, and regional power dynamics. She has worked with leading policy think tanks and academic institutions, offering nuanced insights into the complex security challenges shaping the subcontinent. Ayesha’s expertise spans military doctrines, border disputes, and regional cooperation frameworks, making her a vital contributor to BDMilitary’s coverage of South Asian strategic affairs. She leads the Geopolitics & Diplomacy section at BDMilitary. Ayesha holds a dual master’s degree — a Master in International Relations from the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, Spain, and a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, Canada — combining deep academic insight with practical policy expertise.
