The deal was signed at the official residence of Japanese Prime Minister in Tokyo on Thursday, the fourth day of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's just-concluded tour. It is a follow-up to the Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries in Dhaka on February 10,1982.

In presence of the Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, and Khaleda Zia, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Matsushiro Horiguchi and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Serajul Islam signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

The programme consists of five chapters: Education and Academic Exchanges; Cultural and Artistic Exchanges, Youth, Sports and Tourism; Press, Radio, Television and Communication, and General Provisions.

This is one of threes agreements signed between Bangladesh and Japan during the Prime Minister's visit to Japan that concluded Friday.

The two other accords signed are on training of Bangladeshis in private companies in Japan and Japanese grant assistance for meteorological radar and other equipment for disaster management in Bangladesh.