'Japan needs hands, Bangladesh has youth’: Moyeen Khan

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan said Saturday that Bangladesh's large youth population could become a vital partner in meeting Japan's growing demand for young, able workers, framing the two countries' contrasting demographics as a natural complement rather than a challenge.

Speaking as chief guest at the "Japan-Bangladesh Partnership Seminar 2026," held at the Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in the capital's Kakrail, the minister said Japan's population skews significantly older, while Bangladesh has a comparatively large share of young, working-age people. This demographic contrast, he said, creates a clear opportunity to open employment avenues in Japan for Bangladeshi youth.

Citing the two nations' long-standing friendly ties, Dr. Khan said there is scope to take bilateral cooperation to a new level — one that serves both sides simultaneously: addressing Bangladesh's need for youth employment and Japan's need for manpower. He said Bangladeshi youths working in Japan would see their living standards improve while making meaningful contributions to sectors such as Japan's service industry.

The minister placed particular emphasis on Japanese language proficiency as a prerequisite for Bangladeshi youths seeking work in Japan, and said the government would, if necessary, take steps to establish specialized institutions for teaching the Japanese language.

Japanese representatives at the seminar echoed this outlook, noting that Japan lacks the kind of large young population Bangladesh has, and that its aging society has created workforce shortages in sectors including construction, agriculture, driving and nursing. They said these gaps present an opportunity to bring in skilled, trained manpower from Bangladesh, while also stressing the importance of Japanese-language training and relevant professional skills for interested Bangladeshi youths.