Japan Denies 100,000 Bangladeshi Worker Deal

Japan's government has officially denied circulating social media claims that it agreed to accept 100,000 workers from Bangladesh. Kitamura Toshihiro, Japan's Foreign Press Secretary, stated on October 29, 2026, that no such agreement was part of the discussions during the Japan-Bangladesh Summit Meeting held on October 27, 2026. This clarification aims to correct misinformation that emerged following Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit.

The October 27 summit concentrated on enhancing economic cooperation, investment, connectivity, and regional security between Japan and Bangladesh. The Japanese government anticipates private investment from Japanese companies in Bangladesh to reach approximately one trillion yen within the next five years, potentially creating 200,000 jobs. The two nations also agreed to advance the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt initiative under a new framework named "BIG-B for Shared Prosperity."

The figure of 100,000 workers appears to stem from earlier announcements made in May 2025. At that time, Japanese business representatives had indicated plans to welcome at least that number of Bangladeshi workers over a five-year period to address Japan's labor shortages. This was further supported by an employment and skills-development agreement signed on October 17, 2026, which establishes a framework for recruitment and worker protection. Recruitment under this agreement is slated to commence on April 1, 2027, with an initial five-year term.